1. Knowledge Mobilisation & Implementation Internships - Offering 10 day relese internships, per year, over three years  to health and social care staff, or university researchers working with health and scoial care organisations.

2. Knowledge Mobilisation Fellows - Employing a part-time knowledge mobilisation fellow role to a) support and promote internships, b) conduct engagement activities, and c) lead information sessions.

3. Knowledge Mobilisation support for all ARC North West Coast's research - Expert advice on all aspects of knowledge Mobilisation using the Knowledge to Action Framework.

NIHR ARC North West Coasts's approach aims to build capacity for knowledge mobilisation through structured internships and fellowships, supported by training, expert guidance, and public involvement.

KM Projects underway in ARC North West Coast

• VAPE-FREE: Vaping Awareness & Prevention in Education

  VAPE-FREE: Vaping Awareness & Prevention in Education – For Resilient Empowered Environments

  This project aims to develop and test an evidence-based educational programme on vaping for children and young people. Building on the charity’s existing cancer prevention education offer, which covers topics such as healthy eating, smoking and alcohol, the programme responds to increasing requests from schools for support on vaping awareness and prevention.

  The work began with a review of the latest evidence on vaping and the most effective ways to deliver health education messages to young people. This helped to ensure that all information provided is accurate, up to date and based on proven educational approaches.

  A key aspect of thus project is the adaptation and local testing of the University of Southampton’s Be Smart Don’t Start vaping education resources. Developed in partnership with young people through the LifeLab programme, these materials have already been designed to be engaging and age-appropriate. The project is exploring whether they are suitable for children and young people living in areas of high social deprivation, where additional barriers to adopting healthy behaviours may exist.

  Working with a school or youth group in a deprived area of Lancashire, the project will engage young people in reviewing the resources and providing feedback on both the content and delivery methods. Young people are involved in co-designing how the messages are communicated, ensuring the programme is relevant, accessible and meaningful to its target audience. Feedback is also being sought from teachers, youth group leaders and, where appropriate, parents.

  This project assess the feasibility and acceptability of the educational programme and identify any improvements needed before wider implementation, the findings will be used to develop a larger grant proposal for a multi-school evaluation study to assess the effectiveness of the programme in preventing vaping uptake and improving awareness of the associated health risks among children and young people.

• Targeted digital mental health interventions for young people from marginalised communities

  Targeted digital mental health interventions for young people from marginalised communities: Mobilising evidence to inform practice, policy and future research

  This KM award is strengthening the KM Fellow's knowledge mobilisation skills by translating evidence from a systematic review of digital mental health interventions into practical resources and activities that support their use in real-world settings.

  A review has identified a range of evidence-based digital interventions that can improve mental health outcomes for children and young people from marginalised communities, and this project is focused on ensuring that this evidence reaches and influences those who can act on it.

  Working closely with an experienced knowledge exchange supervisor, the KM Fellkow  is engaging with key stakeholders, including decision-makers, practitioners, community organisations, young people and families, to explore how research findings can be communicated in ways that are accessible, relevant and useful. The project is developing tailored outputs for different audiences, including evidence briefs and recommendations for policymakers, implementation guides and case studies for practitioners, and accessible visual resources such as infographics and fact sheets for wider community audiences.

  The KM Fellow is also using digital and media-based approaches to broaden the reach of the findings, including exploring co-produced social media content for platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn, alongside presentations and knowledge-sharing activities within academic, healthcare and professional networks.

  A central feature of the work is engagement and co-production. Workshops, webinars and community forums are being developed to bring together young people, parents, carers, service providers and community organisations to discuss the findings, identify implications for practice and policy, and co-design future solutions.

  The project is evaluating the reach, engagement and usefulness of these activities through stakeholder feedback and participation metrics.

  The learning generated will inform future funding applications, including a submission of an NIHR Advanced Fellowship application, while also contributing to wider mental health research and knowledge mobilisation activity within Edge Hill University and its partner organisations.

• Sustainable art and creative installations in community forests by people living in forensic settings

  The Creative Forest: sustainable art and creative installations in community forests by people living in forensic settings

  This project is exploring whether art and creative activities in natural environments can provide a sustainable way to support the health and wellbeing of people living in forensic mental health settings, connecting patients, NHS staff, university students and community partners to co-create outdoor art installations that are displayed within the Creative Forest, a network of publicly accessible nature sites.

  Working in partnership with Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT), this KM project supports people in forensic settings to design and produce creative works that are installed at Whinney Hill Farm, with the potential to expand to other Creative Forest locations across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The initiative aims to strengthen connections between creativity, nature and wellbeing, while enabling patients to showcase their work within community spaces.

  The funded KM Fellows is examining the experiences and perceptions of patients, staff and community stakeholders to understand how creative activities in nature can be delivered sustainably and meaningfully. Following ethical approval, participants are contributing artwork, sharing their experiences and providing feedback on the project. Staff members are supporting participants in developing suitable pieces for outdoor display, while researchers are collecting and analysing qualitative data to explore the impact of the initiative.

  The project also contributes to wider organisational goals by promoting nature-based approaches to health and wellbeing, supporting green social prescribing and encouraging environmentally sustainable creative practice. In addition, it provides opportunities for University of Central Lancashire students to engage as volunteers and supports the development of evidence on art, nature connection and mental health.

  The findings will inform recommendations for future delivery and potential expansion of the model to additional Creative Forest sites and partner organisations. Outputs include a research report, dissemination through academic and practitioner networks, and the development of future funding and publication opportunities to support wider implementation.

• Bowel cancer screening for people with a learning diability

  Exploring healthcare professionals’ experiences of a trial intervention designed to improve the uptake of bowel cancer screening by people with a learning disability

  This project is exploring how healthcare professionals support people with a learning disability to participate in bowel cancer screening and identifying ways to reduce inequalities in screening uptake. People with a learning disability are at greater risk of developing bowel cancer, yet participation in screening programmes remains significantly lower than in the general population, contributing to poorer health outcomes.

  The is being conducted alongside a trial intervention delivered by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and funded by the Integrated Care Board. The intervention aims to improve bowel cancer screening uptake among eligible adults with a learning disability by identifying individuals through GP Learning Disability Registers and providing tailored support through Learning Disabilities Health Promotion Officers. This support includes preparation for screening, personalised problem-solving, home visits where needed, and follow-up assistance.

  The work is focusing on the experiences of healthcare professionals involved in delivering the intervention. Through qualitative interviews, the KM funded team are gathering insights into the barriers and facilitators associated with recommending and supporting bowel cancer screening for people with a learning disability, examining challenges encountered in primary care, community settings and people’s homes, while also identifying examples of effective practice.

  The findings will generate new evidence on how personalised support can improve participation in cancer screening among people with a learning disability. This knowledge will be used to produce recommendations for healthcare practice, service development and future research. The project is also working with public advisers who have a learning disability to co-produce accessible health information and educational resources based on the findings.

  This work aims to support service improvement and inform future commissioning decisions, helping to increase bowel cancer screening uptake, reduce health inequalities and improve early detection and survival outcomes for people with a learning disability. If the intervention proves successful, the findings will support wider implementation and scale-up across other regions.
   

• Systematic review of end-of-life-care economic literature

  Systematic review of end-of-life-care economic literature

  One of the funded KM Fellows is undertaking a methodological evidence synthesis to explore how the economic impacts of an end-of-life care package for stroke patients can be measured and evaluated. It aims to identify and synthesise current evidence on appropriate methods, outcome measures and analytical approaches that can be used to inform a future economic evaluation within a planned research grant application.

  Building on experience in evidence synthesis, health technology assessment and health economics, the KM Fellows is reviewing and analysing existing research to understand how economic benefits and costs associated with end-of-life stroke care are currently assessed. Particular attention is being given to methodological challenges in evaluating complex interventions, where traditional measures of health-related quality of life may not fully capture wider outcomes and impacts.

  Alongside the evidence synthesis, the KM Fellows is exploring how methodological findings can be effectively communicated and translated into practice. Drawing on principles of knowledge mobilisation and implementation science, the work seeks to ensure that emerging evidence is presented in accessible formats that can support researchers, health economists and decision-makers involved in developing and evaluating future services.

  This funding provides the KM Fellows with an opportunity to lead a methodological research project while developing expertise in health economics and economic evaluation methods. Activities include conducting and synthesising evidence, interpreting methodological findings, contributing to the development of a grant application, and preparing outputs to support dissemination and knowledge exchange.

  The findings will help inform the design of a robust economic evaluation for a future end-of-life stroke care study and contribute to methodological development in this area. By identifying approaches for capturing economic impacts more effectively, the project aims to support better-informed decision making about health and social care interventions, while also strengthening capacity for health economics research and evidence-informed practice.

• Identifying and responding to resettled refugee women’s experiences of domestic abuse and coercive control

  Identifying and responding to resettled refugee women’s experiences of domestic abuse and coercive control

  This project is mobilising the findings of a study on the impact of domestic abuse and coercive control (DACC) on the social and economic mobility of resettled refugee women in England. It focuses on ensuring that evidence from the completed study is translated into practical resources and activities that can be used by practitioners, commissioners, and refugee communities to improve awareness, support, and responses to DACC.

  The KM Fellow is developing a range of outputs that provide detailed evidence on the nature of domestic abuse and coercive control experienced by resettled refugee women, its effects on social and economic mobility, and recommendations for culturally competent support. These outputs include:

  • a project report,
  • commissioner briefings,
  • infographics,
  • academic publications, and
  • a two-hour evidence-based training programme for professionals working with refugee and asylum-seeking populations.

  A key strand of the work involves engagement with refugee women and their communities. Working alongside community representatives who act as knowledge brokers, the funded KM Fellow is adapting research findings into culturally sensitive and accessible materials. These resources are being shared through community talks and ESOL classes to raise awareness of domestic abuse, its impacts, available support, and pathways to seeking help.

  This work is also piloting a continuing professional development (CPD) training programme with organisations across Lancashire. The training equips practitioners with knowledge about identifying DACC, understanding its impact, adopting culturally responsive approaches, and fulfilling safeguarding responsibilities. To support sustainability, the project is identifying and training organisational “champions” who can continue delivering the training within their own organisations.

  Feedback from community members and professionals is being collected throughout the project to evaluate and refine the resources. The final outputs will be made freely available to organisations across Lancashire and England, supporting wider uptake of the research findings and helping to strengthen responses to domestic abuse and coercive control experienced by resettled refugee women.

• Improving uptake and impact of NHS Health Checks in under-served populations

  Improving uptake and impact of NHS Health Checks in under-served populations: A systematic review to inform local implementation strategies

  One of the funded KM Fellows is undertaking a systematic review to identify effective ways of increasing uptake and improving the impact of NHS Health Checks among underserved populations, with a particular focus on South Asian communities in Blackburn with Darwen (BwD). Cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of premature death and illness, and participation in the NHS Health Check programme in BwD is currently lower than desired despite the area experiencing high levels of deprivation and elevated cardiovascular risk.

  Working with local health and community partners, the project is building an evidence base to better understand how barriers to participation can be addressed. Early discussions have identified challenges including language barriers, low confidence in navigating healthcare services, poor adherence to follow-up support, and a mismatch between generic lifestyle advice and community norms. There is also recognition that some groups, particularly South Asian communities, may be at increased cardiovascular risk at younger ages.

  The review is systematically examining interventions that have been used to improve NHS Health Check uptake, engagement and effectiveness in underserved groups. Particular attention is being paid to approaches that encourage long-term participation, support follow-up care, improve adherence to lifestyle or medication interventions, and address the needs of different age groups and South Asian populations. The project is also exploring whether there is sufficient evidence to conduct a meta-analysis.

  Patient and public involvement is embedded throughout the work. Community members from groups with historically low uptake of Health Checks are helping to shape the review, interpret findings and co-develop recommendations to ensure the work reflects lived experience and local priorities.

  The findings will support evidence-informed planning and service development in Blackburn with Darwen, helping to improve access to preventative cardiovascular care and reduce health inequalities. Knowledge mobilisation activities include sharing results with local stakeholders and co-producing accessible evidence summaries with public contributors. The project will also inform the design of future pilot interventions that could be implemented locally and potentially scaled up across other ARC North West Coast regions.

• Mobilising advocacy knowledge to support families of neurodiverse children in Blackpool

  Mobilising advocacy knowledge to support families of neurodiverse children in Blackpool

  This KM funded work is evaluating how Better Minds’ volunteer advocates mobilise and share knowledge to support families of neurodiverse children as they navigate special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research examines how advocates and families work together to adapt information so that it is understandable, practical, relevant and actionable.

  It focuses on five key areas of knowledge: 

  1. education, health and care plan (EHCP) and benefits processes; 
  2. referral pathways and multi-agency services; 
  3. legal rights and entitlements; 
  4. alternative education and support options; and 
  5. practical, experience-based knowledge on gathering evidence, avoiding common pitfalls and communicating effectively. 

  The funded KM Fellow is exploring how sharing this knowledge helps families make informed decisions and access appropriate support.

  Data are being collected through several sources. Advocates are recording the types of knowledge used in individual cases, while families are completing questionnaires at the start of their involvement and again after six months to measure changes in confidence, wellbeing, stress levels and understanding of available options. Case studies are capturing how knowledge is adapted and applied in real-life situations, and service monitoring data are tracking outcomes such as successful EHCP applications, disability benefit awards, agreed school adjustments, access to alternative provision and support relating to elective home education.

  This work aims to generate evidence on the value of combining advocacy with lived-experience knowledge. Findings will help demonstrate how knowledge mobilisation can improve access to entitlements, increase awareness of educational options and strengthen parental confidence in navigating complex SEND systems. They will also provide a model that can inform future service development, sustainability and potential commissioning opportunities.

• Changing Minds Lancashire

  Changing Minds Lancashire

  This KM funded wors is focussed on mobilising findings from child-led research on mental health and wellbeing to explore how health and social care services can better meet the needs of children and young people who face multiple risk factors for poor mental health. Previous research undertaken by children and young people identified barriers to support, including challenges in relationships with adults and professionals, limited influence in decision-making, and difficulties accessing appropriate help.

  The KM Fellows is establishing a new young researcher group at Royal Preston Hospital, initially involving young people connected with Lancashire County Council Social Care. Working with researchers, the group is reviewing findings from previous youth-led studies and considering how these insights can inform improvements in local health and social care services.

  A key focus of the work is building a network of young researchers and supporting them to shape future research priorities. The group is helping to design approaches for engaging a wider cohort of children and young people, ensuring their experiences and perspectives inform future evidence gathering. Together, participants are examining findings related to mental health and wellbeing, identifying gaps in knowledge, and co-creating a roadmap for further research, engagement and impact.

  This also involves collaboration with Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board to help young people understand how services operate and how decisions are made. The knowledge generated will inform future research and funding applications, with the aim of increasing meaningful child participation in service improvement and supporting more equitable, child-centred approaches to mental health and wellbeing support

• Exploring the Link Between Stroke and Cancer: Towards Integrated Safety-Netting for Earlier Diagnosis

  Exploring the Link Between Stroke and Cancer: Towards Integrated Safety-Netting for Earlier Diagnosis

  This knowledge mobilisation project is exploring the relationship between stroke and cancer to improve the earlier detection of cancer among people who have experienced a stroke. Emerging evidence suggests that some cancers may increase the risk of stroke and, in some cases, stroke may be an early sign of an undiagnosed cancer. However, little is currently known about how cancer is identified and monitored following a stroke, or how patients might benefit from improved cancer safety-netting approaches.

  The project is undertaking a scoping review of the international evidence to identify what is known about cancer diagnoses following stroke, including which cancers are most commonly associated with stroke, factors linked to increased cancer risk, and patterns in the stage at which cancer is diagnosed. The review is also identifying gaps in current knowledge to guide future research.

  Alongside the review, the project is establishing an expert working group and patient and public involvement (PPI) panel involving stroke survivors, healthcare professionals, GPs, stroke specialists and cancer experts. Through a structured consensus-building process, participants are working together to identify research priorities and develop recommendations for improving cancer safety-netting in stroke care.

  The findings from the evidence review and stakeholder engagement activities are being used to co-develop a future NIHR funding application focused on improving earlier cancer detection among stroke patients. The project is also producing accessible outputs and a research agenda to raise awareness of the potential links between stroke and cancer, support knowledge sharing, and inform future improvements to clinical practice and patient outcomes.

   

• Improving the implementation of the Call for a KIT intervention in Lancashire and South Cumbria

  Improving the implementation of the Call for a KIT intervention in Lancashire and South Cumbria

  This project aims to optimise Lancashire’s Call For A Kit (CFAK) colorectal cancer screening intervention, which has been shown to increase screening participation by 15% and reduce inequalities among underserved groups. While the programme is effective, recent evaluation findings indicate that the initial telephone contact only reaches around half of eligible screening non-responders, with younger adults aged 50–65 less likely to be reached despite being highly likely to participate when contacted.

  The KM Fellows supported work will, is assessing the feasibility of adapting and improving the CFAK model to better engage younger age groups. A key activity is the development of a co-produced service evaluation survey involving GP practice staff, CFAK team members, practice managers and other stakeholders. The survey explores current delivery processes, operational challenges, implementation barriers and opportunities for improvement within participating GP practices.

  The project is looking to examine the capacity and capability of existing CFAK delivery sites and investigate the feasibility of extending delivery through alternative community settings. Community pharmacies, family hubs and community centres located near participating GP practices are being identified and assessed as potential settings for delivering the intervention. The Information gathered is determining the approaches are practical, acceptable and sustainable for both providers and patients.

  Findings will provide valuable insights into the operational requirements needed to deliver CFAK effectively and identify ways to reduce burdens on practices, including reducing time spent on unsuccessful phone calls. The knowledge generated will support refinement of the CFAK model to improve uptake among younger adults while ensuring implementation remains feasible and cost-effective.

  The project will produce a feasibility assessment tool that can be used as the programme expands to new GP practices in Lancashire and beyond. It will directly inform the ongoing rollout of CFAK in areas such as Liverpool and support wider implementation of an evidence-based approach to increasing colorectal cancer screening participation and reducing health inequalities.

More information

Further information can be found on the NIHR ARC North West Coast knowledge mobilisation web pages.