Introduction
Below are local evidence and research projects undertaken by Somerset Council and local partners.
Somerset Research Engagement Network (REN)
Somerset Research Engagement Network (REN) is a project funded by NHS England. It aims for more people in Somerset to join research studies and make sure everyone has a fair chance to take part. The project team includes people from different groups like Somerset Integrated Care Board, Somerset Foundation Trust, Somerset Council, Spark Somerset and other community groups. They talk to community groups and their members about research to reach their goal.
Lived Experience and Community Organisation Advisory Partnerships
Our Lived Experience Advisory Partnerships (LEAPs) and Community Organisation Advisory Partnerships (COAPs) continue to play an important role in strengthening the work of council teams in partnership with communities to help co-design documents, inform approaches, and shape strategies that reflect lived experience, knowledge, and insights.
We currently help support LEAPs and COAPs with several council services, including Workforce and Skills, and Public Health Nursing. We are also onboarding community organisations across Somerset to our HDRC COAP, which will influence the work we do as a team.
Want to know whether a LEAP and COAP could strengthen your work? Take a look at our guidance on setting up these participatory approaches towards co-production, here. For further guidance and support, please contact: participation@somerset.gov.uk
If you would like to know whether a LEAP or COAP could be right for you, take a look at our guidance documents on setting one up:
Community Grants Fund
The HDRC is currently funding Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCSFE) organisations to undertake locally targeted pilot, evaluation and research projects around building blocks of health aligned with core Council priorities.
Grants up to £2,500 were awarded to 11 applications in the first round focusing on topics from employment pathways to social inclusions. A second application round closed in April 2026, with 15 applications funded. The next round for applications will be announced in the Autumn. For further information, please contact SomersetCommnityGrants@somerset.gov.uk
Community Research Supporter Grants
The HDRC is currently facilitating Community Research Supporters across a number of council services, including Community Research Supporters are a way of linking community organisations closely with projects being undertaken by the Council, and aim to strengthen how these organisations use research, increase their confidence and skills in undertaking research, and support them to share what they learn in ways that benefit local people and improve Somerset Council services.
If you would like to know more about how we could facilitate a CRS for your team, please contact: Participation@somerset.gov.uk
Research Practitioner projects
We currently have six live Research Practitioner projects. These projects seek to generate new evidence that can inform Council decision making, directly impacting the health and wellbeing of residents and simultaneously building research capacity and skills within the Council:
- How do flood cafes provide mental health and community resilience support in flood affected areas?
- How are hidden harms identified and responded to for children in universal and early help services?
- How do socioeconomic factors influence repeated access of Somerset Council housing systems and long-term housing stability?
- What is the social and economic impact of a dedicated caseworker on timely delivery of Disabled Facilities Grant funded adaptations?
- What support can Learning Mentors offer children and young people in Key Stage 2 and 3?
- What factors drive absenteeism among statutory school aged children in Somerset, and how do these factors relate to key childhood vulnerabilities?
Supported Housing Strategy
We continue to support the Supported Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy development, offering expert guidance on data analysis and future demand projections. Our current focus is to ensure the data clearly identifies health inequalities and unmet needs, enabling the strategy to target support more effectively and improve outcomes for residents.
The project is also being assisted by a Community Research Supporter from Second Step, who will partner with Council colleagues to embed community lived experience at the heart of the new Supported Housing Strategy.
Academic Publications
The HDRC and partners are currently working on two papers for academic publication.
The first reports the findings of our baseline assessment of research culture and capacity within the Council and VCSFE sector, highlighting strengths, focus areas, and opportunities for future collaboration.
Our second paper, in partnership with the Behavioural Science team, outlines how we have used behavioural science techniques to design research training and development offers, providing valuable learnings for other HDRC, local authorities, funders and researchers.
Completed Projects
Project Title: How can intervention effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and the impact of partnership working be sustainably measured within Early Help services?
This project applied the RE-AIM framework to evaluate a range of Early Help services in Somerset between 2023 and 2026, while also building an evaluation toolkit than can be applied within day-to-day practice.