Community Research Training for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
We were commissioned by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust to deliver training to academic researchers, professionals involved in research, and community researchers.
This follows the successful delivery of our Principles and Ethics of Community Research training through the Coventry and Warwickshire Research Engagement Network (REN) between February and April 2025. Building on the positive feedback and impact of those initial sessions, the Trust has commissioned us once again, this time to engage a new cohort of researchers and professionals through a refined and tailored programme.
This work supports the Trust’s wider ambitions to embed ethical, inclusive, and community-centred approaches in health and social care research. Our training builds capacity and confidence among those designing and delivering research, particularly in how they engage with minoritised and underrepresented communities.
Our training for academic researchers and professionals involved in research
Our Principles and Ethics of Community Research training for academic researchers, and other professionals involved in research, focuses on strengthening ethical research practices that respect and reflect the values of diverse communities.
Participants explore the importance of diversity in research, understand community engagement principles, and reflect on power dynamics between researchers and communities. The course covers terminology related to inequality and marginalisation, and shares strategies for fostering inclusive, respectful research environments.
Through case studies and discussions, academics learn to build genuine partnerships with community researchers, supporting shared leadership, transparency, and ethical accountability throughout the research process.
Our training for community researchers
Our Principles and Ethics of Community Research training for community researchers provides essential guidance on ethical and respectful research practices grounded in key ethical principles such as boundaries, consent, confidentiality, anonymity, safety, and the right to withdraw.
Participants are introduced to three key ethical approaches: deontology (Kant), utilitarianism (Bentham), and ethics of care (Gilligan), and explore how these frameworks support ethical community research.
Through practical case studies, participants prepare for real-life challenges such as handling sensitive disclosures, ensuring privacy in virtual interviews, and managing group dynamics. The course also addresses researcher wellbeing, emphasising the importance of support and clear boundaries to ensure a safe and respectful research experience for all involved.
Dual approach for the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust has adopted a dual training approach to support both groups, which equips them to work together more confidently, sharing a common understanding of ethical values, inclusive language, and responsible research practice.
Training sessions for each group have been delivered separately to meet their unique needs. However, opportunities were provided for both academic and community researchers to come together, share experiences, and network. This helped bridge the gap between academic expertise and lived experience, ultimately enhancing the quality, relevance, and impact of community research.