📣 We’re taking a break from 19 December 2025 to 6 January 2026 and won’t be monitoring our social channels or email inbox during this time. Wishing everyone a restful end of the year and a very happy start to the new one.

💡 The Ideas Fund has released new learnings on Reimagining Research! The report brings together insights, case studies, videos and blogs and is shaped by project partners and people involved in the Fund over the years. 🔗 tinyurl.com/muzf2bfz @wellcometrust.bsky.social @britsciassoc.bsky.social

📅 Tomorrow! Join us 1-2pm on the 2nd of December to find out more about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter and how its principles can lead to more equitable, trusted and longer-term research partnerships. 🔗 Register here: zurl.co/2pJAC

Are you a community leader in Greater Manchester (GM)? Join these free webinars to find more about the GM Respectful Research Charter & its principles, including how to influence research priorities based on community needs. 🔗 Register here: zurl.co/WnlZB

📣 The North West has one of the UK’s highest rates of liver disease, but not many people know about it. Liver Talks shares Jade, Kevin & Rucksana’s stories of not knowing they were at risk, what they wish they’d known, and what advice they needed. 👇 zurl.co/41hdq

📣 “We want you to have your say, we want you to be involved in help to address health inequalities and shape the way that we do research”

How can we create an environment that supports diverse communities to get involved in research? Join these free webinars to find how you can build equitable partnerships with community organisations! 🔗 Find more here: zurl.co/x1onu #InclusiveResearch

Find out about the Greater Manchester Respectful Research Charter & how its principles can help you advocate for your organisation's best interests & secure fairer partnerships from the start. Join the webinar: 🗓️ 02/12/25, 1pm - 2pm 🔗 Register: zurl.co/75sd7

📣 “For me it’s the little things that no one really thinks about that make a big difference.” Mehar shares how living with photoaggravated atopic dermatitis (PAD) has shaped daily life, identity and community. Read her blog to find out more: zurl.co/Y35FB

📣 Equitable partnerships in research are vital to tackling health inequalities. The Respectful Research Charter sets out 5 guiding principles, co-produced with communities & researchers. Read more here: zurl.co/OZ1Wg #InclusiveResearch #GetVocal

📣 How can we build respectful, equitable community-research partnerships in Greater Manchester? Join this free webinar on the Respectful Research Charter to learn how its principles can support your work. 🗓️ 02/12/2025 🔗 Register: zurl.co/d2PXi @gm-vcfse-leaders.bsky.social @arc-gm.bsky.social

All About Alopecia shows what’s possible when people with lived experience and researchers work together. It’s about community, confidence, and making research more relevant to people’s lives. Find out how we worked with people with alopecia shape it and how it made a difference: zurl.co/XvKhL

After 17 years of dedicated leadership, Director Bella Starling is moving on to new challenges. We’re so grateful for Bella’s vision and care, and wish her all the best in her next chapter. In this blog, she shares her reflections on her journey with Vocal. 🔗 wearevocal.org/wlrs/listen-...

📣 Communicating effectively about research is crucial to making it more accessible. Find out how in this guide co-produced with the Black and Asian Research Advisory Group: zurl.co/7rrdv 📩 Read below to learn more. #InclusiveCommunications #GetVocal

📣 “I feel uplifted after the session.” Group member The Community Cancer Insight Group at @hmhcmcr.bsky.social was co-developed to embed community perspectives into @nihr.bsky.social Manchester Biomedical Research Centre Cancer Prevention and Early Detection research. Read more 👇 zurl.co/YyJXp

Dr Bruno Simões studies how #BreastCancer develops to find better ways to prevent it. Read about his NIHR Manchester BRC supported work & the Wonderfully Made Woman event he joined for #LetsTalkLabs 👉 zurl.co/pVhYE#BreastCancer#LetsTalkLabs #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth #BCAM #inclusiveresearch

With support from the @ManchesterBRC , Dr Sacha Howell is leading research to identify women most at risk of #BreastCancer earlier. Find more in this #LetsTalkLabs blog: zurl.co/0lG6S

📣 What does a “broker” bring to community–research partnerships? The Ideas Fund’s new insights explore how brokers connect communities and researchers, build trust, and keep collaboration moving. In Oldham, Vocal and @weacttogether.bsky.social play this role. Find more here: zurl.co/kzFrC

“I was allowed to pause, take a break, ask questions if I needed to. That really helped.” – Public partner, 22 years old. Researcher Mica is involving young people to make her research more inclusive of young people who have experienced trauma. 👇 zurl.co/9HRls

Community organisations in Greater Manchester have been working with the local health research ecosystem to break down barriers & make health research more inclusive and accessible. Read the Gtr Manchester Research Engagement Network case studies 👉bit.ly/4eZk4h7

In this #MyMSKStory, Natasha shares her experience of living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis – from when she was diagnosed, to enrolling to a scuba diving course. Read it here: zurl.co/OVxzF

“We're ordinary people and we've come through this and we're using this creative side of us to share our experience.” Julie and Farida both got diagnosed with cancer and had radiotherapy. 🎥 Watch this film to find out about their experience & how it led to a comedy double act. zurl.co/0zXH1

📣 Are you interested in having your say in research but unsure if it’s for you? Khumbo, who took part in #LetsTalkLabs, shares how it was opportunity for learning. Find opportunities to have your say here: zurl.co/C89dV#LetsTalkLabs #HealthResearch #GetVocal

“How do you think it feels to be me, apart from you, covered up in the heat?” Did you know that there’s a type of eczema that is triggered or made worse by sunlight? Read this blog to find out what it’s like to live with this condition: zurl.co/nztRF

📣 How does laboratory research help people with asthma? Simon met with NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre supported researcher Hannah Durrington to explore this question. Watch this film to find the answer and let us know what you think!

📣 How do we talk inclusively about health research? Members of the Black and Asian Research Advisory Group worked with us to co-develop a series of principles for inclusive communication – which we’re using in our work. Read them here: zurl.co/kPxoY

📣 “I feel like I’m giving something back to the community” Unsure about if having a say in research is for you? Hear Russ’s experience. Visit our opportunities page to find how you can have your say in research: zurl.co/gfghS #InclusiveResearch

📣 "I felt dehumanised as a patient and sharing my story allowed me to be human again and be more than my condition" - #MyMSKStory Participant Creative projects like #MyMSKStory help build relationships between people and research. Read more: zurl.co/YSyhp

📣 It’s important for people to be involved in health research at a strategic level. Read this blog to find about Grace’s experience working with the National Institute for Health and Care Research Manchester Clinical Research Facility 👇 #InclusiveResearch #HealthResearch #GetVocal

👋 Welcome to Vocal on Bluesky! We’re just getting set up here — page under construction 🛠️ In the meantime, follow us on Facebook and explore our website to see what we’re up to: 🔵 Facebook: @letsgetvocal 🌐 wearevocal.org More about our work coming soon!