Summer 2025 REN Black Country Community Research for Health Grants Now Open!

Does your organisation work with people with a story to tell? If so, you may be interested in becoming a community researcher!

Wolverhampton Voluntary & Community Action (WVCA) are excited to announce that the next phase of the Research Engagement Network (REN) Development Fund is now underway. Their goal is to better understand what matters most to people regarding health and care in 2025-26. Additionally, this program aims to enhance diversity in research.

WVCA are offering free training and between £100-£10,000 per project. They are interested in projects looking at all of the diverse communities in the Black Country, all ages, abilities and languages welcome. Even if your participant wants to tell the story in their native language, they will welcome any stories and will look to accommodate non-English speakers.

WVCA have already been working with a wide range of community groups, charities and social enterprises, who have been highlighting important case studies from within the Black Country about people’s experiences of health and care. WVCA have had some amazing feedback and are now in the next phase to expand their work even further, as they provide evidence to health commissioners about the important role the voluntary sector plays.

If you would like to apply, or if you have any questions about this fund, please contact applyren@wvca.org.uk