Community Health Inequalities Research
Community Research Services for VCSE Engagement and Insight
We specialise in delivering high-quality, accessible, and inclusive community research for Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, statutory partners, and public service providers. Whether you’re seeking to understand the needs of a specific community, evaluate the impact of a project, or inform future service delivery, our bespoke research services ensure your decisions are grounded in real-world experiences.
Our work is ideal for:
- Public bodies and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs)
- Local authorities and health partnerships
- Charities and social enterprises
- National and regional grant funders
We frequently partner with organisations aiming to reduce inequalities, amplify underrepresented voices, and co-produce service improvements with communities. From exploratory focus groups to complex mixed-methods research, we ensure inclusive and accessible engagement strategies tailored to your audience.
Why Choose Us?
Organisations turn to us because we are embedded in the VCSE landscape and understand the nuances of working with diverse and marginalised groups.
- We work collaboratively and ethically with VCSE partners to gain genuine insight.
- We ensure that the voices of service users and grassroots organisations are at the heart of your project.
- We bring deep experience in community development, social justice, and participatory research.
Unlike many research agencies, we don’t just “consult” communities—we empower them to help shape the questions, interpret the findings, and advocate for change.
How Our Service Works
Our approach to community research typically follows this inclusive process:
- Co-design: We work with stakeholders and VCSE groups to design your research objectives and methods.
- Engagement: We facilitate focus groups, interviews, and surveys with community members, frontline staff, and service users.
- Data Collection: We use accessible methods tailored to your population (e.g., Easy Read formats, interpreters, assisted interviews).
- Analysis: We apply rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods, combining lived experience with empirical insight.
- Actionable Reporting: We present findings in practical, accessible formats ready for sharing with decision-makers, funders, and the public.
Recent examples include:
- Mapping barriers to health access for people with sensory impairments
- Exploring food insecurity in rural Dorset
- Identifying support gaps for unpaid carers
- Evaluating impact of community health navigation services
Strategic Insight
Understand the true needs of your service users and where resources are most effective
Improved Services
Design more inclusive, responsive services based on real-world challenges
Policy Influence
Use credible research to influence local or regional decision-making and funding priorities
We work across the VCSE sector, with public sector partners, ICSs, and funders who are committed to improving community outcomes.
Yes, we prioritise ethical research and adhere to best practice in safeguarding and data protection.
Yes. If you’ve already collected data but need help interpreting it, we can support with analysis and reporting.
“We don’t have a large budget.”
We offer scalable research packages, from light-touch consultations to full-scale evaluations. We also assist with joint funding applications.
“Our community is hard to reach.”
That’s our speciality. We use trusted intermediaries and culturally competent approaches to ensure marginalised voices are heard.
“We don’t know what we need yet.”
No problem, our team can help you refine your aims and choose the right methods to meet them.
We’ve worked with:
Dorset ICS
Public Health Dorset
Local NHS Trusts
Ready to Start?
Contact Caro Hart to discuss your community research needs:
- VCSE sector engagement
- Research design and delivery
- Stakeholder co-production
Caro Hart, Community Training Consultant
caro.hart@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk
07827 996905
Sign up as a Member to gain our extra funding bulletins, or click to receive our e-newsletter.
If you need something extra, please use this quick ‘Make an Enquiry’ form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.