Public Involvement and Engagement Hub

10/10/2026

🦋 Could you help with our research through a little creativity?

We’re working with Public Involvement and Engagement Hub to explore people’s experiences of accessing healthcare while experiencing homelessness.

If you’re currently homeless or have experienced homelessness in the past, we’d love you to get involved. 💛

I know coming along to a group session isn’t possible or comfortable for everyone, so you can take part wherever you feel comfortable, in your own time.

We’re inviting you to create something around butterflies as a sign of transformation. A drawing, painting, collage, poem, a few words… whatever suits you.

I’ve got a few questions to help you think about your experiences and give you a starting point, so you don’t need to know straight away what you’d like to create.

You don’t need to be “arty”. It’s about what you want to express, not how it looks. There’s no pressure to make it a positive story, and you only share what feels comfortable.

Send me a private message if you’d like to take part. I can send over the questions and explain more about the research and how your contribution would be used.

Please share with anyone who might like to get involved. 🦋💛

10/10/2026

Earlier this year, we announced The Muslim Women’s Health Experiences Project - a community-led research project working with Muslim women across Wigan Borough to understand their experiences of accessing and navigating health services.

The project aims to create trusted spaces where women feel comfortable sharing their experiences, while building confidence, research skills and opportunities for ongoing involvement. The learning will be shared with services and decision-makers to support practical improvements, strengthen relationships between communities and the wider system, and ensure future decisions are better informed by Muslim women’s lived experiences.

We've funded these groups who are currently carrying out the work...

Al Furqan Mosque - £6,000
Beauty For Ashes Refuges - £5,600
kintsugitherapy - £6,000
The Park Play Makers - £4,175 ( Wigan & Leigh Play Collective)
Wigan Islamic Cultural Educational Society - £5,998
WomanLeigh CIC - £5,000

See more on our website in the comments below...

29/09/2026

The September meeting is also the awards ceremony first the Programme Action Award chosen by the Region Programme Action Officer Yvonne Gibbon. This year the award was given to Soroptimist International Leigh and District for their project ‘People’s Experiences of Gynaecological Health’. A survey commissioned by NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board Wigan locality, who provided the funding to carry out the project which was planned and implemented by club members in partnership with Wigan Borough Community First. Dorothy Bowker S. I. Leigh programme action officer receives the award on behalf of the club from Yvonne ♥️❤️

04/09/2026

02/09/2026

What are the benefits of being a community researcher?

As a community researcher, you can receive reimbursement for your input on flexible projects. You can also...

- Learn practical research skills through free training
- Contribute to studies that affect local policies and services
- Ensure community voices are heard and valued
- Connect with a network of people and organisations with shared goals
- Receive reimbursement for your time on flexible projects
- Join a growing pool of trained Community Researchers connecting you to universities, health services, and local government, helping you build your experience and open potential opportunities further in these fields

Why not join us?

👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8z4JQauNoUyPzd3DnI0AIMv7Ekc9aK9BuVhlPJu_cc9UQVdVUk9JN0FKTDRSQlpVR0I2SjUyQlJWRyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

30/08/2026

Why does community research matter?

Wigan is a diverse and vibrant borough, but many communities here face big social and economic challenges. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis health, social and economic inequalities have worsened, especially for marginalised groups. To create real change, research needs to be carried out not just about communities but by communities themselves to ensure local needs and wants are heard and acted upon.

The voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector plays a key role in connecting people with services. The creation of a WBCF PIE research network, will enable the VCFSE sector and community members to be directly involved in research, giving the community a voice.

By training Community Researchers, we make sure local voices shape research, influence decisions, and help create fairer policies that impact their lives. So, why don't you become one?

👉 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8z4JQauNoUyPzd3DnI0AIMv7Ekc9aK9BuVhlPJu_cc9UQVdVUk9JN0FKTDRSQlpVR0I2SjUyQlJWRyQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

27/08/2026

Are you in our WhatsApp?

Join our chat to discuss all things community research and see the latest opportunities, right to your phone!

https://chat.whatsapp.com/CUeTZmzz2hs0nby3ceHdtQ

24/08/2026

New Research Opportunity!

A new North West VCFSE Commissioning Review Panel has been launched to help improve how the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector is commissioned and funded across the region.

The panel will review real-life experiences from VCFSE organisations, using this evidence to identify good practice, highlight challenges and develop practical recommendations for fairer, more effective and transparent commissioning.

The panel is now inviting VCFSE organisations across the North West to submit case studies about their experiences of commissioning, procurement or funding.

Submissions can include both positive experiences and areas where things could have been improved.

If you're interested - find out more here
👉 https://wbcf.co.uk/north-west-vcfse-commissioning-review-panel-launches/

23/08/2026

New Research Opportunity!

Christie Research have are running a survey about Cancer Research in the North, as to support a funding application to help cancer researchers share ideas and work together in the North of England.

This funding will enable researchers to collaborate, share ideas and work more closely with patients, the public,community organisations, industry partners, and the NHS to help improve cancer care and outcomes for everyone.

The survey should take no more than one minute to complete and closes on31st August 2026.

If you're interested in filling out this survey - find it here:
👉 https://wbcf.co.uk/funded-template/

21/08/2026

We'd like to point you towards our sibling organisation, Healthwatch Wigan & Leigh!

Healtwatch uses feedback from the people of Wigan & Leigh to better understand the challenges facing the NHS and other care providers, to make sure individual voices and experiences improve health and care services for everyone.

Your Local Healthwatch can also help you to get the information and advice and you need to make the right decisions for you and to get the support you deserve - which serves as a powerful rescource when people you support need help navigating the health service, especially when you can just ring them up at 1942 834666 and talk it through.

See more: https://healthwatchwiganandleigh.co.uk/