Can community leaders use data to improve public health and wellbeing?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Take the Lead: Data Champions programme is offering grants of £3,000 to community leaders across the UK. By partnering with data scientists, these leaders can design creative activities to address health issues like heart disease, mental health, and environmental concerns, specifically targeting groups often excluded from traditional health research.

The Take the Lead: Data Champions initiative, managed by HDR UK, aims to bridge the gap between complex health data and the communities that need it most. By providing £3,000 in funding, the programme empowers up to 20 community leaders to design and deliver bespoke activities between February and June 2027. The goal is to demystify data, allowing leaders to build confidence in using research to support the health and wellbeing of their specific audiences. Applicants do not need prior experience in science or research; the initiative prioritizes those who can effectively act as champions for data engagement within their own local networks.

Eligibility is focused on established UK-based community organisations that work with specific priority groups, including people from low socio-economic or minority ethnic backgrounds, those experiencing digital exclusion, and individuals in rural areas. The programme specifically targets these audiences because a 2025 desk review identified them as being less likely to engage with health data. Leaders are encouraged to focus on critical health topics such as brain health, cancer, heart health, sustainable diets, and young people’s mental health. Successful projects will demonstrate a deep understanding of their audience's unique needs and interests, moving beyond generic outreach to create meaningful connections.

The application process opens on 5 October 2026, with a deadline of 2 November 2026. A mandatory welcome event will take place in Bristol on 23 February 2027, where participants will begin building relationships with data scientists. This collaboration is intended to inform how data is used in future research, ensuring that insights from the community are shared with colleagues and the wider public. By fostering these relationships, the programme hopes to create a sustainable model where community-led insights help shape the direction of health research, ultimately ensuring that data-driven solutions are both accessible and relevant to the diverse populations they are intended to serve.

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