Current & Upcoming Research

image661×331 92.1 KB

Do you work with young people aged 15-17 in the East or West Midlands who could be considered vulnerable or at risk?

Positive Pathways is a fully funded research study delivered by Ingeus and funded by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF). The programme is designed to motivate, support, and inspire teenagers to change course and thrive.

Click on the link for further details:

Peer Researcher – COMBINER study

The McPin Foundation

Type: 2 years fixed term contract
Location: Working remotely and at the University of Birmingham
Salary: Starting from £30,437 per annum (£12,174.80 pro rata 0.4 FTE)

Hours: Part time (15 hours per week)

Are you interested in working on research focused on bipolar that champions lived experience? Do you have experience of research methods and facilitating involvement in research?

We are looking for a peer researcher who has a first-hand understanding of bipolar to help us deliver the COMBINER project. This is an opportunity for someone with a personal history of bipolar themselves, either as a service user or carer for someone with bipolar who is looking to gain experience in public involvement and conducting peer research in a mental health trial. They will have an interest in public involvement in mental health research and a good understanding of research principles, perhaps through university studies. The post will involve working alongside both young people and adults with lived experience of bipolar, as well as NHS clinicians and university-based academics.

This project is specifically located at the University of Birmingham with the COMBINER trial team (the post-holder will be seconded to work with them) led by Professor Steven Marwaha. COMBINER is a two-year study comparing three treatments for bipolar disorder: lithium alone, quetiapine alone, and lithium plus quetiapine together. We want to find out whether taking both medications helps people stay well for longer than taking just one. The trial has been funded by the National Institute of Health Research, and we have recently started recruiting participants.

Our team is committed to transforming mental health research through collaboration, inclusion and a belief in equity and anti-oppressive behaviour. We strongly encourage applications from Black people, People of Colour, people who are LGBTQIA+, those with a disability and those who identify themselves in marginalised groups, as well as people with lived experience of mental health issues.

We offer benefits including a competitive salary, hybrid/flexible working, a NEST Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution, wellbeing support and mentoring scheme, an individual training budget and access to an Employee Assistance Programme and healthcare cash plan with Hospital Saturday Fund. You can find out more about us at www.mcpin.org.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 6th January 2026, 9 am. Interviews will take place on the week commencing 19th January 2026**.**

Application form - Peer Researcher COMBINER Nov 2025.docx (238.3 KB)

ADVERT- Peer Researcher COMBINER November 2025.pdf (56.6 KB)

McPIN Peer Researcher (COMBINER) Nov 2025.docx (293.9 KB)

Building Bridges, a local social enterprise is co-delivering one day training about producing easy read information, in Birmingham City Centre on Thursday 15th January 2026. Easy read is a simple accessible format that people with a learning disability prefer. See the poster for more information including how to book.

IntroEasyReadFlyer 15.1.26.pdf (1.3 MB)

Venue: The Exchange, Centenary Square
Date: Thursday 23^rd October
Time: 15.00 – 16.30

Explore how AI affects employment and work experiences, with insights from disabled people, researchers, NGOs, and business leaders.

This interactive workshop will explore disability and diversity in a future of AI, highlighting the importance of workforce diversity and the need to design in disability to AI developments and applications within the workplace to ensure no one is left behind and the full potential of AI is realised.

As artificial intelligence (AI) advancements and adoption continue at a rapid pace, there is a need to ensure the opportunities and benefits to people and workplaces are realised across the workforce. Hear from people with disabilities, business leaders, representatives from non-governmental organizations, and researchers, as we explore and debate the implications of AI on employment opportunities and work experiences for disabled people.

Hosted by Dr Daniel Wheatley, Reader in Business and Labour Economics and Director of the Work Inclusivity Research Centre (WIRC) at Birmingham Business School.

Our panel of guests include:

• Chris Erwood, Director of Erwood & Associates Ltd and Trustee of The Edward Gostling Foundation

• Dr Neve Abgeller, Associate Professor in Work, Organisation and Employment, University of Birmingham

• Emma Partlow, Director of Engagement, Transreport

• Jake Wall, Policy Manager, Skills and Future of Work, TechUK

This event is part of AI Empowered.

This event is part of the 2025 ESRC Festival of Social Science Programme at the University of Birmingham, as part of Birmingham Tech Week.

Please register via this link.

Poster V31920×2485 249 KB

Researchers at Aston University are undertaking a study exploring the role of community pharmacy in the prevention of cardiovascular disease among minority ethnic groups.

Who is this for?
You’re warmly invited to take part if any of the following apply:
• You are an adult from a minority ethnic background with a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease
• You care for someone from a minority ethnic background who has cardiovascular disease

Attached is a study poster containing further details.

If you would like further information or to express an interest in participating in the research, please contact the research team directly at [email protected].

Thank you for considering this invitation.

BVSC Research and Public Health are conducting research into young people’s attitudes towards vaping.

National data tells us that one in four young people are vaping regularly, and has lead to us wanting a better understanding of vaping prevalence and use by young people in Birmingham.

This project will be part of the Community Researcher Hub.

October 2025 - March 2026

BVSC Research and BCC Public Health are recruiting Community Researchers to help us research facilitators of high smoking prevalence in Birmingham. There is a need for a better understanding of the drivers of smoking in Birmingham, especially in wards where smoking is most common.

Understanding the factors affecting smoking prevalence and quitting in Birmingham will help in the development of interventions to reduce smoking to achieve the goal of a Smokefree generation by 2030.

Who do we want to take part - Smokers age 16 and above that live or work in the following wards: Bartley Green, Castle Vale, King’s Norton South, Garretts Green, and Oscott.

No experience in research is needed as full training will be provided.

Aims -

1. To understand motivations for smoking.
2. Understand smoking habits
3. To explore interest and readiness for quitting.
4. To identify barriers to accessing and engaging with smoking cessation services.
5. To assess the effectiveness of previous cessation attempts.
6. To investigate perceptions of smoking and cessation services.
7. To co-design tailored cessation strategies with participants.

November 2025 - April 2026

Please contact [email protected] for further details

BVSC Research and Birmingham City Council Public Health –
Youth Strategy Development and the voices of 16-25-year-olds

April 25 – August 25

BVSC Research and Birmingham City Council Public Health –
Blood Borne Diseases and Fast Track Cities+

March 25 – July 25