HDRC Southampton overview

HDRC Southampton overview

Southampton City Council has been awarded funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to set up a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC), to support the council in using and generating better evidence to make better decisions relating to the ‘building blocks of health’. Our health and wellbeing are shaped by many factors, starting even before we are born. These factors include our living environment, the quality of our housing, our friendships and family, experiences at school, access to good jobs, and whether we have enough money to meet our needs. These factors are known as the wider determinants of health, and together, these are the building blocks of health. When any of these blocks are missing, people are put at a disadvantage, otherwise known as health inequalities. Improving these building blocks of health will reduce the unfair health differences that exist in Southampton.

Our partners

Our collaboration for Better Evidence, Better Decisions brings together the diverse expertise, resources and perspectives of our partners, Southampton City Council, Southampton Voluntary Services, University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, and our local communities.

Our aim

Our purpose is to tackle unfair and preventable differences in health and wellbeing across Southampton by strengthening our capacity to gather evidence and fostering a culture of using evidence when making decisions on the building blocks of health.

A community approach to research

The HDRC puts communities at the heart of research, helping to improve health and wellbeing across Southampton. We know that not everyone has the same opportunities to get involved, so we are working to understand and reduce the barriers that can prevent people from having their voices heard.

As part of the HDRC programme, we work with local organisations, including Southampton Voluntary Services, to better understand people’s experiences of living in the city and identify ways we can improve health and wellbeing together.

By involving residents in research, we want people to feel empowered to share their experiences, influence decisions and help shape positive change in their communities.

Our NextGen project is one example of this approach, giving young researchers the opportunity to get involved in research and develop valuable research and leadership skills.

Watch the video to find out more.

How you can get involved and find out more

• Follow the team on LinkedIn to keep up to date: HDRC Southampton | LinkedIn 
• See HDRC Southampton press release
• You can find out more about the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the HDRC funding on the NIHR website