By funding projects that bring together academic researchers and community organisations, we aim to foster collaborations that result in real-world impact for communities of older people.
At the Vivensa Foundation, we are committed to funding innovative, impactful research in the field of ageing. We believe that by funding projects that bring academic researchers and community organisations together from the start, we can better support research that creates lasting, positive change for older people.
But co-production within community-engaged research is not without its challenges. It requires time, trust, and a willingness from both academic and community partners to navigate different ways of working, overcome misunderstandings, and continually adapt. It’s hard work – but when done well, the rewards are significant.
In this article, Alison Benzimra, Head of Research and Influence at United St Saviour’s Charity, shares insights from two powerful co-led projects – LEMONADE and Almshouse Resilient Communities (ARC) for the Future.
- Step 1: Align motivations early
One of Alison’s key pieces of advice is to focus on aligning motivations from the outset. Partnering works best when all parties – community organisations, academic researchers, and the community members themselves – are on the same page about the project’s goals and outcomes.
Alison’s role in the LEMONADE and ARC for the Future projects often involved acting as a translator between academia and the community, ensuring that both sides understood each other’s motivations and needs. “Good community-engaged research is not just about collecting data. It’s about understanding the community’s experiences and making sure they see the tangible benefits of their involvement.”
Alison emphasises that many research projects often take an extractive approach, where researchers enter communities, gather data, and then leave without providing any meaningful feedback or demonstrating the outcomes of the research. This, she points out, can lead to disengagement in future projects. To avoid this, she advises academic partners to engage deeply with the community, not just at the project’s start but throughout its entire duration, and to make sure the community sees the direct impact of their contribution. “It’s about ensuring that the community feels valued and that the research is meaningful to them.”
- Step 2: Nurture partnerships by committing time, effort and money
A commitment to relationship-building is essential for long-term success. “It’s important not to underestimate the time and resources required to build strong community relationships,” Alison explains. “Good research is built on good relationships, and developing those takes time.”
Researchers should not rely too heavily on community organisations to do the legwork of relationship-building. “It’s not the community organisation’s job to build these relationships for academics. If anything, when a community organisation agrees to be involved, that’s when academics should roll up their sleeves and do the work to build those relationships.”
It’s also important for academics to understand the pressures faced by community organisations – participating in research on top of their daily-runnings can be hard. For research projects to succeed, they must be aligned with the operational and strategic plans of community organisations. For community organisations considering involvement in research, Alison’s advice is clear: “Make sure the project aligns with your operational plan. That way, when the research ends, your organisation is stronger for it and doesn’t feel as though it gave away resources without getting anything in return.”
- Step 3: Find a funder that values community contributions
In Alison’s experience, one of the unique aspects of the Vivensa Foundation’s approach is its recognition of the value of community organisations’ contributions. This is reflected in our funding calls, which emphasise that community partners’ contributions should be fully resourced and costed.
“In the Almshouse Resilient Communities project, we created a community fund,” she explains. “This allowed us to provide small incentives for participants and fund activities that benefited the entire community. This kind of investment is vital – it ensures that community organisations’ contributions are not just recognised but actively supported.”
- Step 4: Leave partners better off than when you started
Alison stresses that co-produced research is more likely to leave a lasting legacy in the communities it serves. This legacy goes beyond research findings – it’s about building capacity and strengthening community organisations.
“Community-engaged research projects should focus on capacity-building,” she says. “That could mean increasing digital inclusion or offering skills development workshops. When community members and organisations are involved in research, they should walk away with new skills that can be applied long after the project ends.”
This approach, she believes, is key to ensuring that the project has a lasting impact. “If the community benefits from the project, even after funding ends, that’s when you know you’ve created something meaningful.”
Work with us
By aligning motivations, valuing outside input, and committing to relationship-building, researchers can co-lead projects with community organisations to create a lasting, positive impact on older adults and the communities they live in.
Become an Academy member to connect and partner with others in the ageing-related research community. Do also consider the Academy Ignition Fund as an opportunity to secure smaller financial support to build strong relationships and develop ideas in preparation for a larger application.
