📣 We’re taking a break from 19 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 and won’t be monitoring our social channels or email inbox during this time.
Wishing everyone a restful end of the year and a very happy start to the new one.
Vocal works alongside @weacttogether.bsky.social as Development Coordinators for the Fund in Oldham. If you want to chat or share reflections, you can reach Paolo at vocal@mft.nhs.uk — we’d love to hear what you think!
💡 The Ideas Fund has released new learnings on Reimagining Research!
The report brings together insights, case studies, videos and blogs and is shaped by project partners and people involved in the Fund over the years.
🔗 tinyurl.com/muzf2bfz
@wellcometrust.bsky.social @britsciassoc.bsky.social
Webinar invitation graphic about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter, with registration details included.
📅 Tomorrow!
Join us 1-2pm on the 2nd of December to find out more about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter and how its principles can lead to more equitable, trusted and longer-term research partnerships.
🔗 Register here: zurl.co/2pJAC
Graphic promoting the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter with a call to action to register for more information.
Are you a community leader in Greater Manchester (GM)?
Join these free webinars to find more about the GM Respectful Research Charter & its principles, including how to influence research priorities based on community needs.
🔗 Register here: zurl.co/WnlZB
📣 The North West has one of the UK’s highest rates of liver disease, but not many people know about it.
Liver Talks shares Jade, Kevin & Rucksana’s stories of not knowing they were at risk, what they wish they’d known, and what advice they needed.
👇 zurl.co/41hdq
Find opportunities to make a difference to people in the future: wearevocal.org/opportunities
Find about having your say in health research with Mon from Wai Yin Society and Fozia, NIHR Manchester CRF and NIHR Manchester BRC EDI Lead.
zurl.co/QSTSJ
📣 “We want you to have your say, we want you to be involved in help to address health inequalities and shape the way that we do research”
Graphic promoting the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter, inviting users to register and learn more about its use in research.
How can we create an environment that supports diverse communities to get involved in research?
Join these free webinars to find how you can build equitable partnerships with community organisations!
🔗 Find more here: zurl.co/x1onu
#InclusiveResearch
White writing on purple background saying "Find out about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter and how it can help you! Follow the link to register." followed by logos of the lead organisations on top of a white strip at the bottom.
Find out about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter & how its principles can help you advocate for your organisation's best interests & secure fairer partnerships from the start.
Join the webinar:
🗓️ 02/12/25, 1pm - 2pm
🔗 Register: zurl.co/75sd7
📣 “For me it’s the little things that no one really thinks about that make a big difference.”
Mehar shares how living with photoaggravated atopic dermatitis (PAD) has shaped daily life, identity and community.
Read her blog to find out more: zurl.co/Y35FB
📣 Equitable partnerships in research are vital to tackling health inequalities.
The Respectful Research Charter sets out 5 guiding principles, co-produced with communities & researchers.
Read more here: zurl.co/OZ1Wg
#InclusiveResearch #GetVocal
📣 How can we build respectful, equitable community-research partnerships in Greater Manchester?
Join this free webinar on the Respectful Research Charter to learn how its principles can support your work.
🗓️ 02/12/2025
🔗 Register: zurl.co/d2PXi
@gm-vcfse-leaders.bsky.social @arc-gm.bsky.social
A person placing stickers on a round affirmation card that says "I AM PROUD," surrounded by craft supplies on a checkered tablecloth.
A woman examines wigs and hats at a trade show booth, surrounded by displays and other attendees in a busy event space.
Two women engaged in conversation at a conference, surrounded by poster presentations on hair loss conditions, with display tables in the foreground.
Quote from an event participant reflecting on finding comfort and support while processing feelings about alopecia.
All About Alopecia shows what’s possible when people with lived experience and researchers work together. It’s about community, confidence, and making research more relevant to people’s lives.
Find out how we worked with people with alopecia shape it and how it made a difference: zurl.co/XvKhL
A woman in a teal blazer speaks on stage with her hands raised; a large, abstract, spiky sculpture is in the background.
After 17 years of dedicated leadership, Director Bella Starling is moving on to new challenges.
We’re so grateful for Bella’s vision and care, and wish her all the best in her next chapter.
In this blog, she shares her reflections on her journey with Vocal.
🔗 wearevocal.org/wlrs/listen-...
📣 Communicating effectively about research is crucial to making it more accessible.
Find out how in this guide co-produced with the Black and Asian Research Advisory Group: zurl.co/7rrdv
📩 Read below to learn more.
#InclusiveCommunications #GetVocal
📣 “I feel uplifted after the session.” Group member
The Community Cancer Insight Group at @hmhcmcr.bsky.social was co-developed to embed community perspectives into @nihr.bsky.social Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Cancer Prevention and Early Detection research.
Read more 👇 zurl.co/YyJXp
Dr Bruno Simões studies how #BreastCancer develops to find better ways to prevent it.
Read about his NIHR Manchester BRC supported work & the Wonderfully Made Woman event he joined for #LetsTalkLabs 👉 zurl.co/pVhYE
#BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BCAM #inclusiveresearch
A quote on a red background reads: “My motivation is trying to find ways to prevent breast cancer so fewer lives are lost." - Sacha, Breast Cancer Researcher.
With support from the @ManchesterBRC , Dr Sacha Howell is leading research to identify women most at risk of #BreastCancer earlier.
Find more in this #LetsTalkLabs blog: zurl.co/0lG6S
📣 What does a “broker” bring to community–research partnerships?
The Ideas Fund’s new insights explore how brokers connect communities and researchers, build trust, and keep collaboration moving.
In Oldham, Vocal and @weacttogether.bsky.social play this role.
Find more here: zurl.co/kzFrC
Mica’s research is supported by the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research centre and the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration Mission.
“I was allowed to pause, take a break, ask questions if I needed to. That really helped.” – Public partner, 22 years old.
Researcher Mica is involving young people to make her research more inclusive of young people who have experienced trauma.
👇 zurl.co/9HRls
Community organisations in Greater Manchester have been working with the local health research ecosystem to break down barriers & make health research more inclusive and accessible.
Read the Gtr Manchester Research Engagement Network case studies 👉bit.ly/4eZk4h7
Interested in having your say in research or taking part in a creative project?
Find open opportunities here: wearevocal.org/opportunities
In this #MyMSKStory, Natasha shares her experience of living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – from when she was diagnosed, to enrolling to a scuba diving course.
Read it here: zurl.co/OVxzF
“We're ordinary people and we've come through this and we're using this creative side of us to share our experience.”
Julie and Farida both got diagnosed with cancer and had radiotherapy.
🎥 Watch this film to find out about their experience & how it led to a comedy double act.
zurl.co/0zXH1
📣 Are you interested in having your say in research but unsure if it’s for you?
Khumbo, who took part in #LetsTalkLabs, shares how it was opportunity for learning.
Find opportunities to have your say here: zurl.co/C89dV
#HealthResearch #GetVocal
A series of graphics sharing information about Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis, a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight. THe first graphic shares a quote from a participant saying "I can't buy a hat big enough - Anne, 68" . The second graphic says " We live in the shadows" as people with PAD have to avoid sunlight. The third graphic is about the research at the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. Click the link to find out more!
A series of graphics sharing information about Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis, a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight. THe first graphic shares a quote from a participant saying "I can't buy a hat big enough - Anne, 68" . The second graphic says " We live in the shadows" as people with PAD have to avoid sunlight. The third graphic is about the research at the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. Click the link to find out more!
A series of graphics sharing information about Photoaggravated Atopic Dermatitis, a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight. THe first graphic shares a quote from a participant saying "I can't buy a hat big enough - Anne, 68" . The second graphic says " We live in the shadows" as people with PAD have to avoid sunlight. The third graphic is about the research at the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre. Click the link to find out more!
“How do you think it feels to be me, apart from you, covered up in the heat?”
Did you know that there’s a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight?
Read this blog to find out what it’s like to live with this condition: zurl.co/nztRF
Simon is from community organisation Socio-Economic Regeneration CIC, who are part of the Black & Asian Research Advisory Group. Find more here: wearevocal.org/wlrs/listen-u...
