East Marsh Community Research Network Secures Nearly £1 Million to Drive Community-Led Change in Grimsby

The East Marsh Community Research Network has secured close to £1 million in funding to tackle pressing social, economic, environmental, and health challenges in the East Marsh, one of Grimsby’s most disadvantaged and stigmatised 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 transformative funding has been awarded through phase two of the Community Research Networks programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 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 £8.9 million in phase two, with £9.5 million invested across both phases, reflecting a national commitment to community-led research and innovation.

Helen Goulden OBE, CEO at The Young Foundation, said: “We know that local communities and citizens understand local needs best, and are fundamental to tackling complex societal issues. Which is why the Community Research Networks programme is so important. The insights gained from East Marsh Community Research Network and other local research networks will be vital if we are to work together to tackle some of the persistent and entrenched challenges we face.

“And at a national level, we hope to be actively contributing to a new and evolving infrastructure to support community research across the UK. This is core to The Young Foundation’s strategy, and as delivery partner we are proud to be working alongside UKRI to support this work over the next five years – and beyond.”

UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “I am delighted to see the launch the second phase of UKRI’s Community Research Networks programme, in partnership with The Young Foundation.

“At UKRI we strongly believe that R&I should be by everyone, for everyone, everywhere. This programme offers a step-change in the way UKRI funds R&I to reflect this priority. We are putting money into the hands of communities to tackle the issues that matter most to them.

“I am excited to see how these nine networks will enhance connectivity within and between the UK’s regions, contributing to an R&I system that benefits from diverse expertise and understanding.”