Grimsby’s East Marsh Community Research Network has secured close to £1m in funding to tackle pressing social, economic, environmental, and health challenges in the East Marsh, one of Grimsby’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Bringing together a diverse partnership of local organisations, including the University of Lincoln, Foresight North East Lincs, East Marsh United, North East Lincolnshire Council, NSPCC, Learning4Life-Gy, Our Future, and NEL Health and Care Partnership, the East Marsh CRN will use the funding to empower the local community to identify and address critical issues through Participatory Action Research.
The funding has been awarded through phase two of the Community Research Networks programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation and delivered by The Young Foundation, a non-profit organisation that specialises in community research and social innovation.
This milestone follows a successful first phase, during which the network received £25,000 to develop a robust partnership of local organisations, undertake extensive community consultation to ensure the community were receptive to the project and its aims of combatting local challenges, and develop a pilot research project.
Now, with this significant new funding, the East Marsh CRN will focus on training and upskilling residents to take leadership roles in shaping the future of East Marsh. By placing local voices at the centre of research and decision-making, the project seeks to influence policymakers and service providers to deliver solutions that reflect the community’s needs and aspirations.
Jay Emery, Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Lincoln, who is supporting the East Marsh CRN’s research activities, said: “Communities are experts in their own lives and, for many crucial reasons, are best placed to research the challenges that the East Marsh is facing. This funding will enable the community to develop their own ways of doing research that will generate insights and action. However, others must also listen to, and act on, the understandings that East Marsh CRN bring if they genuinely seek meaningful change.”
The East Marsh Community Research Network is one of nine community research projects across the UK to receive funding in this second phase, as part of a wider effort to empower local communities in addressing regional challenges. Collectively, the Community Research Networks programme has awarded £8.9m in phase two, with £9.5m invested across both phases, reflecting a national commitment to community-led research and innovation.
