Case study: Shantelle’s story: Involvement in the Research Ready Communities programme

Shantelle Svarc, Director of Darkside Rising Community Interest Company (CIC) tells us about their experience as a Community Champion in the Research Ready Communities (RRC) programme.

Why did you get involved in the programme?

I had worked previously with the University of Lincoln on a Productivity Programme funded evaluation of our pilot Strength in Cancer project, providing adapted strength training and physical activity for women living with and beyond cancer. My colleagues then met Mo Ray,  Clinical Research Network (CRN) East Midlands Speciality Lead for Social Care at the School of Social Science Annual Research Showcase and heard about the RRC Programme. The programme sounded intriguing, both on a personal and professional level. As an organisation, Darkside Rising CIC was beginning to prioritise engagement in research to develop a robust evidence base for our work, and to support future sustainability. I had also been interested in pursuing further academic studies, as a means of personal growth and for professional development in support of Darkside Rising. Ultimately, I decided to get involved with the programme in order to develop our relationship with the University and take our first steps into research engagement.

How do you feel the programme has impacted the community?

As a culmination of the programme, Darkside Rising organised a research showcase, bringing together participants and academics to discuss the programme and research in general. This highlighted the limits of research where many participants felt their limited time and resources may not benefit them or their community. The event was successful in bridging understanding between academics and our community and will foster the spirit of collaboration and partnership in the future.  We are currently organising another event for later in 2024, tracing the origins of the partnership between Darkside Rising CIC and the University of Lincoln, showcasing best practice in community engagement and collaboration, and creating opportunities for discussion between community organisations and academics. 

Through the extension of the RRC programme, we have made a commitment to participatory action research and participants across our projects are working together as citizen researchers to develop and action their own research project. I believe that this has a strong potential for community impact, and I look forward to following their progress. 

How do you feel the programme has impacted you personally?

The programme has been of tremendous personal benefit.  I had not heard of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) prior to the programme, and so spent some time looking through their website and associated activities. It was through this that I found out about the Pre-Doctoral Fellowship, discussed it with academics at the University of Lincoln who we had worked with previously, and applied.  I am now in my 5th month of the Fellowship, completing a Masters by Research and developing my interests in feminist narrative inquiry and trauma-informed care within a physical activity context. I credit Professor Mo Ray and the RRC Programme for the success of this Fellowship. 

Looking to the future, I am also preparing to apply for the NIHR Doctoral Fellowship to pursue a PhD, hopefully starting 2025 or 2026. 

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about your experience being involved in the RRC programme? 

The programme has been a fascinating journey which has achieved our initial aims – a closer relationship with the University and taking our first steps in research engagement.  It has brought greater opportunity than first imagined, with the successful Pre-Doctoral Fellowship application. It has also given focus and direction to my research interests and cemented the importance of action research in my future endeavours.