Public and community involvement in research across the South West has been recognised through the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) Outstanding Contribution to Public and Community Involvement Awards.
The awards celebrate innovative, inclusive and meaningful involvement of people and communities in SPCR-funded research and activity. They recognise the important contribution of public and community partners, researchers and research support staff in ensuring that lived experience, perspectives and priorities help shape research.
Two colleagues connected to ARC South West have been recognised through this year’s awards.
Health Ambassadors recognised for their contribution to research
Mari-Rose Kennedy, who is part of the ARC South West team, has been recognised as part of the Health Ambassadors team, which received a Recognition of Excellence Award in the category of Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Public or Community Partner Involved in Research.
The Health Research Ambassadors team is led by the Bristol-based community organisation CaafiHealth in collaboration with academic partners. The team was recognised for its contribution to connecting researchers with communities that can be underserved by health research, helping to strengthen relationships between researchers and the communities they work with.
Mari-Rose was also recognised as part of the In Partnership team where the CaafiHealth Research Ambassadors team worked with Alisha Newman from the University of Bristol Centre for Academic Primary Care to run a series of community health and research events which received a Recognition of Excellence Award in the category of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public and Community Involvement by a Research Project or Team.
These awards highlight the value of working collaboratively with communities and ensuring that research is shaped by the people and communities it aims to benefit.
Mari-Rose Kennedy, Senior Research AssociateIt is wonderful that the CaafiHealth Research Ambassadors team have been recognised for the work they do to increase the meaningful involvement of underserved communities in research, and for the In Partnership project. The Health Ambassadors are passionate about the work they do and tackling health inequalities. These initiatives are an important part of wider efforts across our region to improve research inclusion with the aim that health and care research benefits everyone.
Beccy Summers highly commended
Beccy Summers, also part of ARC South West, was highly commended in the category of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public and Community Involvement by an Early Career Researcher or Supporting Staff Member.
Beccy is also part of the Patient Bridge project team, which was highly commended in the category of Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public and Community Involvement by a Research Project or Team. The team included two public members, Leon Farmer and Sharon Cooper, whose contributions formed an important part of the project’s public and community involvement.
The recognition reflects the important role that research support staff, early career researchers and public contributors can play in embedding meaningful involvement throughout research, helping to create opportunities for public contributors to influence research and strengthening the relationship between research teams and the communities they serve.
Beccy Summers, Research AssociateThere is such fantastic involvement work happening out there, I was very touched to have our work recognised as a part of the awards.
Celebrating meaningful involvement in research
The SPCR awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the people and teams helping to make research more inclusive, collaborative and relevant to communities.
At ARC South West, public involvement is an important part of how we support research that addresses the needs and priorities of people and communities across the region. The recognition for Mari-Rose, the Health Ambassadors and In Partnership teams, alongside Beccy’s highly commended nomination, highlights the contribution that public and community involvement can make across research.
The SPCR Outstanding Contribution to Public and Community Involvement Awards are part of the SPCR’s 20th anniversary celebrations. All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition, with the awards and nominations being celebrated at the SPCR 20th Anniversary Celebration at Keele University in November 2026.
