About us
The Cumberland Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) will help us better understand the health issues in our area.
We have been awarded £4.8million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to set up a centre for research excellence. This funding has enabled us to recruit and establish a new team within the council, now fully in place and working closely with partners across community and academic sectors. Our core aim is to increase research capacity within the council and conducting research with our communities about health inequalities.
Our objectives are:
- develop a culture for research excellence
- expand research communications
- build a sustainable research infrastructure
- build and strengthen research knowledge and skills across the council and communities
- strengthen collaborative partnerships with higher education institutions
- build research active communities
- to facilitate a network of practice with local authorities
Cumberland Council’s Research Plan
Our research plan has been developed to help us and our partners to gather information about how to improve everyone's health by understanding what causes good and poor health.
In 2025, we carried out scoping reviews of national interventions and practice across priority areas, as well as secondary data mapping to understand the determinants of health in Cumberland.
Scoping reviews (Cumbria Intelligence Observatory)
Building on these foundations, in 2026 we will begin primary research, including deep-dive studies led by our community co-researchers and partner organisations. This will be followed by intervention testing, designed to positively influence the determinants of health in Cumberland, ensuring that evidence directly informs meaningful action.
Key areas that will be researched
Our research plan has been developed to help us and our partners to gather information about how to improve everyone's health by understanding what causes good and poor health.
The key areas for research are:
- poverty
- access to housing
- pathways to employment
- mental health
- drug and alcohol use
- obesity and food insecurity
- children who are cared for
Read more about the research plan
Community engagement and co-research
One of our objectives as the HDRC is to build research-active communities that will help co-produce priorities for research and co-design and delivery of research projects.
We have now successfully recruited our Community Co-Researchers (CCRs), and in 2026 they will begin a structured, three-phase programme designed to support their development and embed co-produced research at the heart of our work.
Phase 1 will focus on induction, introducing CCRs to the HDRC and outlining the forthcoming research activities. They will also receive training in research methods and project development, led by Dr. Suzanne Wilson – University of Lancashire, and will work collaboratively to establish ways of working, form communities of practice, and explore their emerging research interests.
Phase 2 will centre on research ideation, with CCRs connecting with the research theme groups, academic partners, community organisations, and relevant Council projects to shape their areas of focus.
In Phase 3, CCRs will undertake deep dives within local communities, leading the delivery of research projects that place co-production at the core of the programme. This phased approach ensures that CCRs are fully supported, well-connected, and empowered to contribute meaningfully to community-driven research.
The Art of Wellbeing: a Cumberland HDRC community engagement project
The Art of Wellbeing is a Cumberland Council Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) community engagement project, designed to open conversation on understanding health and wellbeing within Cumberland's communities. The creative sessions were devised and delivered by Stefan Escreet from Ragged Edge Productions and delivered in partnership with Rosehill Theatre.
From college freshers fairs to community cafes, the Art of Wellbeing project visited over 15 locations across Cumberland, offering free, hands-on sessions where participants of all ages could craft their own paper puppets and invented character biographies for them. Attendees then imagined these characters lived in the community the session was held which prompted discussion about health and wellbeing provision in that place and reflections about mental health, physical wellbeing, and the everyday challenges people face.
Stefan recorded the contributions of participants and edited this into an audio backdrop to an exhibition of all the puppets at Rosehill Theatre in October 2025. There were over 130 puppets and they were arranged into tableaux with the puppets having fun – reflecting the fun that was had in the creative sessions. The audio is available at RaggedEdge Productions: The Art of Wellbeing
An exhibition was held at Rosehill theatre from 25th October to 2nd November 2025, featuring a collection of puppets and audio excerpts gathered along the way ensuring that the voices heard during this journey continue to inspire and inform. Watch the behind the scenes and insights (YouTube) from artist Stefan Escreet, partner Rosehill Theatre and HDRC's project officer Lianna.
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their creativity. Made by the community, for the community.
Research activities and news
Research theme groups have been established with University of Cumbria, bringing together expertise from the council, academia and our community to develop research questions, plans, and apply for funding to tackle the determinants of health.
Our CCR research projects and recruiting for participants will be done later in 2026.
Research governance
We have developed a Research Governance Framework to ensure that all evidence gathering undertaken for research is necessary, ethical, well designed and beneficial to all stakeholders involved.
How we are governed:
- our Oversight Board made up of community partners makes sure we are working strategically and delivering our plans on time and to budget
- our Community Advisory Panel makes sure we are appropriately involving communities in the work of the HDRC
- Academic Partnership meetings make sure we maximise the benefits of these partnerships
- Operational Team meetings make sure our work plans are delivered and issues are resolved easily
Our partners
- Cumbria CVS
- Healthwatch Cumberland
- University of Cumbria
- University of Lancashire
- NIHR
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Find out more about NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations
Find out more about the project by watching the Cumberland health research appeal video
How you can get involved
Keep up to date with all the latest developments by signing up to our email newsletter. including how to participate.
You can also follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Get in contact with us by emailing us at [email protected]