The solution 

At Health Innovation South West, we are one of many partners across health, care, academia and VSCE that make up the Research and Engagement Network, which works to make mental health research more inclusive and representative across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

The programme has strengthened relationships between communities, researchers, VCSE organisations, and health and care partners – embedding inclusive practice into the region’s research system by:

• Supporting sustainable engagement with rural and coastal communities traditionally under-served by research, including farming where rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness are high.
• Increasing inclusivity and opportunities for diverse participation.
• Embedding new approaches into the way the health and care system operates.
• Growing local activity such as research cafés, peer researcher training, and community listening networks.
• Developing replicable models that can be shared nationally.
• Developing cross sector research partnerships; broadening our Research Community of Practice (CoP) across geographical boundaries and sectors to create sustained partnerships
• Embedding diverse communities in research governance structures; co-producing processes that are aligned to supporting local ICB and NIHR research strategies.

These activities are increasing trust, visibility and opportunities for communities to shape research. They are also helping researchers design studies that are better suited to local needs.

By taking a staged and sustainable approach, the Research Engagement Network is changing how mental health research happens in the South West:

• Patients benefit because research and services are based on evidence that reflects their real needs.
• Researchers benefit from access to more diverse participants and richer insights.
• The health system benefits from preventive, community-based solutions that reduce pressure on emergency and hospital services.

Our work in partnership

Partners who make up the REN partnership include: 

• National Institute of Health and Care Research  
• South West Peninsula Regional Research Delivery Network 
• Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula 
• Devon Mental Health Alliance
• Health Innovation South West
• Devon Integrated Care Board
• NHS Devon
• One Devon
• Devon County Council
• Devon Partnership Trust
• Devon Community Foundation
• Livewell Southwest
• Torbay, Plymouth and Devon VCSE Assembly
• Somerset Health Determinants Research Collaborative
• Somerset Integrated Care Board

Our impact so far

In the most recent stages of the programme (REN3 which ran April 2024 – July 2025 and REN4 which ran August 2024 – August 2025), the Network has built strong foundations and then scaled across the Peninsula.

In 2025, we conducted an evaluation of the community engagement, capturing feedback from the community listeners and the members of the public attending the research cafes.

As well as conducting the evaluation, Health Innovation South West provides programme management to REN, which includes overseeing the programme board, helping to set the strategic direction of the network, and designing the programme phases with each round of funding.

Across the partnership, we are tracking impact through:

• Diversity of engagement: Monitoring participation by geography, socioeconomic status and protected characteristics.
• Capacity building: Numbers of research cafés, community listeners trained, VCSE and academics up-skilled.
• Quality of experience: Feedback from participants and community listeners on confidence and involvement.
• System impact: Embedding REN approaches into study design, testing, and delivery.

Our 2025 evaluation of the community engagement showed that:

• Of the 28 people who signed up to be community listeners, all had experience of mental ill health in one or more capacities, with almost all (92%) working in a professional role with people experiencing mental ill health.
• Of the members of the public who provided feedback on their interactions with community listeners or experience of attending a research café, 95% of participants said they valued their experience, felt listened to, and left the interaction or session understanding more about how to participate in research and were more likely to get involved.

What’s next?

The Research Engagement Network is continuing to expand its reach and impact. By embedding practical approaches like research cafés, workforce development and community listening, we are creating long-term, sustainable models of engagement.

Our ambition is not just to improve mental health research in the South West, but to create a replicable model that can nationally influence research practices.