Mobilising knowledge in local government to promote wellbeing and equity: action learning with public health, social care and local communities

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research, producing a wealth of research evidence that is relevant for local government, particularly for public health and social care but also related to other departments, such as education, transport and leisure. But how to access, interpret and apply this broad range of evidence effectively for local government decision making when you have no or limited capacity for research?

We are a group of researchers, called Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellows, funded through the NIHR Centre for Engagement and Dissemination (NCED), who are keen to help local authorities mobilise this research evidence in response to their local needs by facilitating partnerships between knowledge producers (universities), users (local authorities) and mobilisers (NCED, Public Health England). We have a track record of working with local authority colleagues to co-develop tailored solutions to policy and practice challenges. We also work in tandem with the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARCs) in your region.