Help Us Shape Research with Older Men Living with Type 2 Diabetes
About this opportunity
The opportunity:
We're developing a project to better understand how older men living with Type 2 diabetes access information, support and services. We're looking to work with community organisations who can help us shape the project and ensure it reflects people's real experiences.
Why now, and why Somerset?:
What we hope to learn, understand, or achieve:
We want to design a research project that is grounded in the experiences of older men living with diabetes, particularly those who may not regularly engage with healthcare services or support programmes. By involving community organisations early, we hope to ask better questions, reach a wider range of people and generate findings that lead to practical improvements.
Ways to get involved:
What organisations might gain from being involved:
Organisations will have an opportunity to influence the design of a potential research study before funding applications are submitted. Participants will receive updates on project progress, opportunities to contribute to future stages of the work, and access to findings. We hope this collaboration will also strengthen relationships between community organisations and local research teams.
Introduction to the project lead
Name:
Joe Bloggs
Organisation:
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
I’m a researcher working with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and community partners to explore how older men experience living with Type 2 diabetes. We know that many people successfully manage their condition, while others face challenges that are not always visible to services. We’re keen to work alongside community organisations from the outset to ensure the project reflects the realities of everyday life.
What involvement might look like
What we are asking organisations to do:
How much time is likely to be involved:
How we are making it easy to be involved:
We recognise that organisations are often managing competing demands and limited resources. We’re happy to offer flexible ways to contribute, including online meetings, informal conversations, attendance at existing groups and community venues. We are also exploring whether small participation payments can be made available to support involvement.
What can be shaped and what is fixed:
The overall focus on older men living with Type 2 diabetes is fixed, as this is the population the project aims to understand. However, we’re seeking input on the research questions, language, engagement approach, recruitment methods and interpretation of findings. We are particularly interested in understanding what matters most to people themselves rather than focusing solely on clinical outcomes.
Delivery timeframes:
We’re currently in the early development phase and hope to gather input over the next two months. Initial conversations can be as light-touch as a short discussion with staff or community members, with opportunities for deeper involvement available for organisations who wish to remain involved as the project develops.