Public and community partnerships funding award

Funded projects will explore new or improved ways that local authorities can involve people and communities in public health research conducted outside the NHS.  

We funded 2 pilots in September 2025, to Kent County Council and Lancashire County Council. Our open funding call closed in December 2025, and we received 33 applications and made 29 awards. 

The aim is to increase the voice and representation of diverse people and communities in public health research. The award will generate evidence and insight that can be shared with other local authorities to strengthen public and community involvement in public health research. 

Examples of projects that could be funded include:  

• developing new ways to involve residents and community groups who are most affected by health inequalities but are currently under-represented in public health research. This could include a wide range of residents and groups such as rural or coastal communities, ethnic minorities or LGBTQ+ communities

• building new partnerships with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations, such as local infrastructure organisations (LIO), local voluntary groups, charities and community interest companies to support public health research.

• starting conversations with local people and groups to help shape new ways of involving them in public health research.

• Looking at asset-based approaches to PCP, which focus on the strengths and resources within communities that enable them to be involved in public health research

• exploring how to use a local authority's own workforce or services to help involve diverse people and communities in public health research. This could include staff working groups or local authority services and locations such as schools, libraries, housing teams or other customer service points

• creating better ways for people and communities to inform public health research priorities, ensuring their voices guide what matters most

• creating, offering, and delivering training and support to give people and communities the knowledge and confidence to take part in public health research

We encourage projects to explore different ways of engaging with people and communities. This could include working with artists or craftspeople, partnering with community champions or faith leaders, local business or engaging with people in new places or at different times of day.