Community Organised Research for Equity (CORE)

• CORE is funded by Impact on Urban Health to support community-driven research projects in Southwark and Lambeth
• Community-led research with partnerships and collaborations across sectors
• Addressing inequalitites and structural inequities in health, healthcare and social services
• Based on community priorities with outcomes emphasising action 

• One-to-one project support
• Workshops for research skills development and to translate findings into practice
• Showcasing projects through events, networks, website and social media

Our objective is to fund health-related projects that communities have identified as crucial priorities. These may include areas like environmental health, mental health, maternal health and chronic illness.

Additionally, we aim to assist projects in identifying and addressing inequalities in access to healthcare and social services and explore new ways to promote health equity. We are particularly interested in projects that take an intersectional approach and consider social determinants of health like housing, employment, education, and income, regardless of their specific research focus. In addition to funding, we offer resources and opportunities to aid in the dissemination of research findings. We are dedicated to helping successful applicants throughout their projects.

Funded projects are aligned with the objectives of the HSE Collective’s guiding principles, integrating attention to addressing inequities across the three priorities of the Collective:

• Community engagement and advocacy (e.g., engaging local community members in decision-making processes and advocating for their needs)
• Education, training, and capacity development (e.g., providing training opportunities and building up the skills and knowledge of community members)
• Research and evidence generation (e.g., conducting research to better understand health inequalities and develop evidence-based solutions)

Our goal is to fund innovative research initiatives that improve health equity and address the underlying causes of health inequalities in communities. We believe that by engaging with communities and generating evidence-based recommendations we can influence policy and produce practical solutions that lead to lasting positive change. 

Successful applicants receive personalised support throughout their project, including assistance with data access, handling, and analysis, as well as GDPR compliance advice.

We will also host workshops for applicants to share and discuss their project progression and research findings with other applicants and members of the HSE Collective. Finally, at the end of the project, we will host an event to showcase findings and network with project teams, community members, and other stakeholders.

We are pleased to announce the funded projects by Star Support LGBTIQ+ CIC, Paradigm Project, South East London Mind and Equality 4 Black Nurses and welcome the teams into the Collective.  

Star Support is a by-and-for* LGBTIQ+ domestic abuse refuge and community support service for LGBTIQ+ people who have experienced domestic abuse. They provide a range of community-centered services, including a safe accommodation scheme, weekly community support and some advice and advocacy. They work in partnership with community groups and organisations to improve service provisions to better meet the needs of LGBTIQ+ survivors of domestic violence.

Their funded project aims to assess specialised community interventions for LGBTIQ+ domestic violence survivors. The project aims to track survivors’ journey through support services and identify any service gaps and barriers to mainstream services. Seeking consultation from survivors and local specialist LGBT+ community organisations, the project aims to enhance the voices and needs of LGBT+ domestic violence survivors.

This research is critical to improving the quality of support services available to LGBTIQ+ domestic violence survivors. The funds from CORE will support all aspects of the research, from design to dissemination, ensuring the inclusion of participant rewards for their time.  

*Star Support is a by-and-for service. This means that their services are founded and delivered by LGBTIQ+ people with lived experience of domestic violence and homelessness.

Paradigm Project is an inclusive youth-empowerment charity with a strong focus on empowering disadvantaged young children. Their work centres around unlocking the potential of young people with preventative methods against the impact of adversity and social inequality. Within Paradigm’s core team are youth-empowerment specialists who offer one-to-one and group mentoring, professional training, as well as support and advice to vulnerable groups with emerging difficulties and needs.

Their funded project aims to investigate the role of cultural humility in education with an intersectional focus, by exploring its impact on Black and Black-Mixed-Race female students’ well-being. Collaborative and participatory work will be done with those working in education settings, including students, teachers, parents and local community groups. Funds from the HSE Collective will support community engagement, creative data collection, and dissemination efforts. Contributors, primarily of Black heritage, provide authentic insights into the issue, reflecting a commitment to creating inclusive and empowering learning environments for marginalised communities.  

Queer Minds is a peer support group established by South-East London Mind (SEL Mind) for LGBTQIA+ individuals residing, working, or socialising in Lambeth and Southwark.

The funded project investigates the mental health service experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community in Southwark and Lambeth by focusing on stigma and barriers to accessing care. Aims of the project include strengthening trust between the LGBTQIA+ community and healthcare providers to help foster earlier help-seeking behaviours for mental health. Using a combination of surveys, peer-led interviews, focus groups, and community workshops, the Queer Minds project will develop actionable recommendations for early intervention in local NHS mental health services and make key recommendations for NHS staff. These recommendations will be validated and co-produced with the community to ensure authenticity and relevance.

In line with the scope of the HSE Collective, the project directly addresses health inequalities by focusing on the unique mental health challenges and barriers to accessing mental health care among the LGBTQIA+ community. Through a co-production approach, Queer Minds aims to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices to influence change in mental health service delivery. Funds from CORE will support the delivery of the project ensuring the success of this initiative.

Equality 4 Black Nurses (E4BN) is a community-led organisation dedicated to challenging racism in healthcare, promoting accountability, and empowering nurses to stand up against discrimination. Our newly funded project focuses on how racial trauma affects Black nurses in Lambeth and Southwark, exploring how these experiences contribute to broader health inequalities across our communities.

Why This Matters

Real Stories, Real Impact: Black nurses often report discrimination, microaggressions, disproportionate disciplinary actions, patronising performance plans, and biased NMC referrals. These experiences harm their mental health, job satisfaction, and professional progression.

Systemic Barriers: Such challenges underscore deeper structural inequities that not only affect nurse retention but also compromise the quality of patient care.

Driving Change Together: We aim to develop evidence-based solutions—including mental health resources and policy recommendations that foster safer, more inclusive workplaces for all nurses.

Our Approach

Listening to Nurses
We’re conducting in-depth interviews and focus groups to ensure frontline insights shape our strategies and solutions.

Community Collaboration
By partnering with local healthcare institutions and community organizations, we translate research findings into tangible, lasting change that benefits both healthcare providers and the wider community.

Improving Patient Care
When nurses’ well-being is prioritized, patient outcomes improve. Our goal is to create an environment where every nurse is supported, valued, and empowered to deliver the highest standard of care.

Get Involved

If you’ve experienced or witnessed racism in a healthcare setting and want to share your story or if you wish to learn more about our project, please get in touch. By raising our voices together, we can build a stronger, fairer future for all in Lambeth and Southwark.