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Community involvement in research and engagement in Birmingham and Solihull

The purpose of this survey is to understand the research and engagement activities that take place in Birmingham & Solihull, how communities are currently involved in this activity and the gaps that people's voices fall through.

This survey is managed by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council and results will be shared with the other members of the REND partnership (Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSol ICB), Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC), Flourish, Catalyst 4 Change and regional National Institute for Health and Care Research Infrastructures hosted at the University of Birmingham).

Data will be held in accordance with GDPR and all data will be anonymised when reports and outputs are produced. Partner organisations may contact you around research and engagement opportunities, or if funding opportunities arise.

1.What is your organisation's name?

2.Which geographic areas/wards does your organisation cover?

3.How many total members of staff/volunteers does your organisation work with?

1-5

6-10

11-20

21-50

51+

4.What methodologies do you use to gather data and insights? (e.g. surveys, interviews, case studies etc)

5.How often do you gather data and insights on health / wellbeing from the communities you work with?

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Feedback in your events and programmes

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Listening events

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Engagement projects (eg: events or drop-in surgeries)

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Surveys on particular health / wellbeing topics

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Connecting people to wider data gathering exercises (eg: sending out links to or helping people to complete surveys)

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Participating in formal research projects (eg: funded projects with a university partner)

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

6.Which members of the community does your organisation support? [tick all that apply]

Children and young people

Older people

People with physical and/or learning disabilities

People with mental health support needs

People from a particular ethnic or racial origin (please specify below)

People who face significant or multiple disadvantage (i.e. people being released from prisons, people who are homeless, women fleeing domestic violence, care leavers - please specify below)

People from a specific geographic area (please specify below)

People from a particular community (e.g. LGBTQIA+)

Please specify any communities you work with, as per the options above. Please also include any other community members not covered by the above options.

7.In general, how would you characterise the communities you work with in terms of how much they want to take part in data gathering / research?

Highly engaged when asked

Moderate engagement when asked

Little or no engagement when asked

Unable to contribute

If the answer would be different for different communities that you work with, please specify here:

8.What are the main barriers to communities taking part in research? (tick all that apply)

Lack of awareness about the research purpose

Concerns about privacy and confidentiality

Limited time availability

Language barriers

Limited access to technology or internet

Distrust in research processes

Fear of stigmatisation or discrimination

Lack of perceived personal relevance to the research

Health-related issues or limitations

Cultural or religious concerns

General scepticism towards research activities

Financial constraints or lack of incentives

Previous negative research experiences

Lack of understanding about the benefits of participation

Fear of unintended consequences or misunderstandings

Caring responsibilities

Other (please specify)

9.In your experience, which groups are most likely to be impacted by the barriers above?
(eg: people of certain ages, circumstances, other protected characteristics)

10.Which of the following measures would support more communities to get involved in data gathering and research? (tick all that apply)

Greater accessibility (eg: different formats, languages, help filling out forms etc)

Knowing why it is important that their community contributes / implications of their community not contributing

Finding out what happens as a result of the data they share

Taking part in data gathering during another activity they already engage with (eg: filling out a survey during a regular coffee morning)

Remuneration / Incentive (eg: vouchers, small gift etc)

Something else (please specify)

11.How do you share the data and insights you gather?

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Published or presented within your organisation only

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Shared back to the people you engaged with

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Published or presented to partner/funding organisations

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Shared publicly in a journal/report or online

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Presented publicly at conferences or sharing events

Frequently (at least 4 times a year)

Occasionally (about once a year)

Rarely (once or twice in the last five years)

Hardly ever (done previously but nothing within the last five years)

Never (we have never done this)

Other (please specify)

12.Aside from further funding, which of the following do you think would be helpful in research and engagement? (tick all that apply)

Toolkit on gathering and using data / engaging in research

Organisational workshops / webinars

Having access to a community data and research hub / accessing expertise

Being more connected to other organisations collecting / using data / participating in research

Annual VCFSE data sharing event / conference or similar event

Something else (please specify)

13.Do you ever work in partnership with other organisations for the purpose of collecting data/insights from the community? If so, what kind of organisations? (e.g. NHS trusts, council, other voluntary sector organisations, private companies)

14.If you are happy to be contacted, please could you confirm the contact details for whoever at your organisation is best placed to advice around community engagement or research?

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