REN 3 Programme: our next workshop will help to identify the barriers to health research with children and young people

13th February 2024

Listen to act is pleased to be part of the Research Engagement Network (REN) to improve engagement and participation in research with children and young people.

Children and young people account for over 20% of the UK population, with over 10% of healthcare spending but only around 5% of health research funding. Increasing participation of children and young people in research could lead to more effective and evidence-based interventions to address challenges such as young people’s mental health and growing health inequalities.


The REN programme of work is supported by the Research Engagement Network (REN 3), NHS England and is delivered in partnership between Association for Young People's Health, Imperial College London and local community partners in NW London.

As a partner in the programme, we will be hosting a workshop in collaboration with the Association for Young People’s Health (AYPH) and Imperial College London to understand better the barriers health researchers face in engaging children and young people in research, and the potential solutions. The workshop is being co-designed with young Listen to Act volunteers.

The workshop’s findings will be captured in a ‘visual minute’ and fed into the project’s overall findings.

Background

This grant is the third round of funding that the North West London Integrated Care Board has received from the REN programme within the last 12 months to increase participation of underserved communities in research.

The initial round of funding utilised roadshows, Community Research Champions and a Health Partnership Form to engage over 1,200 people from underserved communities in research. The latest round will seek to build on this work with several community partners, including Listen to Act.

Complete the survey

Our project partners would like to better understand the barriers health researchers face in engaging children and young people in research.

Please take five minutes to complete this survey about challenges you may have faced in your work and the support you feel would help researchers to develop more research with children and young people.

Your contribution will help us to shape training for health researchers and to develop programmes to address the barriers to health research with children and young people.

Complete the survey

Nina Flowers