Our community engagement work creates opportunities for community groups working with under-served audiences to take the lead in exploring how data can support their health and wellbeing.

The programme builds on our Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement strategy, developed through public and professional consultations which highlighted the need to engage people not already involved in health data science, particularly under-served audiences.

Take the Lead: Data Champions 2027 – apply now

Receive £3,000 to design and deliver activities that explore how data can support better health and wellbeing in your community and gain skills, knowledge and connections along the way.

Apply by Monday 2 November at 12.00, midday.

Find out more

Get inspired

Not sure what activities you could do to engage your community with health and wellbeing data? No problem. We have resources and case studies to help you get started.

Everyday data activity pack

Our Everyday data activities help communities like yours explore their health and wellbeing through everyday experiences such as moving, sleeping and spending time in nature.

Each activity encourages participants to notice, record and reflect on information (data) about their daily lives. By doing so, people can learn more about their own wellbeing, the wellbeing of their community and the factors that can influence health.

While the pack has been developed with community groups and organisations in mind, the activities are suitable for any group of people wanting to use data to understand more about their health and wellbeing.

Everyday data activity pack 

Community case studies

Take a look at case studies from previous Take the Lead awardees exploring how they used data to spark conversations about health and wellbeing in with their communities.

“Instead of asking participants to complete surveys or delivering one-way health messages, we used existing data as a starting point for discussion.”

“We wanted to explore whether creative activities could help older people generate their own health data in ways that felt meaningful, enjoyable and empowering.”

“We wanted to help young people in our community understand that data can be a tool for learning about themselves and improving their wellbeing. We also wanted to show families that health data does not only belong in hospitals or research centres, it can start with simple observations from our daily lives.”

“The focus moved from “how do we collect data” to something more foundational. What needs to be in place for people to want to engage with this at all?”

Watch the video below to hear what happens when communities take the lead in exploring and using health data, from some of our 2026 Take the Lead awardees.

What kind of data can communities use to explore health and wellbeing?

Lots of different kinds of data can be used to understand more about health and wellbeing. It can take many different forms, such as:

  • National statistics: Public bodies like the Office for National Statistics and the NHS have lots of data that they use to give a snapshot of health and wellbeing across the UK. They can be a useful starting point for community conversations about data and statistics.
  • Journalling about your health. If you’ve ever kept a journal to track how you are physically or mentally feeling, you’ve been collecting health data.
  • NHS GP and hospital appointments. Data from blood tests, scans and consultations can be used to improve treatments and patient care, and understand more about diseases. Find out more about how the NHS uses health data and how health data is used in research in this simple explainer.
  • Fitness watches and health tracking apps. You can track step count, heart rate, menstruation and lots of other data about health through these. They can be useful to help us keep fit.
  • Personal pedometers and heart rate monitors. Before fitness watches and apps, people tracked their steps and heart rate using personal, clip-on pedometers and monitors. These are still available and inexpensive.
  • Supermarket reward points. These can provide insights into our health and wellbeing through seeing the kind of items we buy and when.
  • Community conversations and surveys. There are many groups that advocate for the wellbeing needs of their communities. Insights about health and wellbeing issues that are important for community members, collected through things like conversations, art, surveys and social media polls, can help groups tailor their health and wellbeing activities.
  • Environmental and social data. Combining health data with data about things like air or water quality and access to green space can be used to understand more about the possible causes of certain health and wellbeing issues in a community.
  • And lots more! Can you think of any more examples?

Take the Lead 2026

In September 2025, we launched the Take the Lead small grants. Community groups across the UK applied for up to £1,500 to deliver a standalone project, event or series of activities exploring how data can support their health and wellbeing in their communities between January – March 2026. Importantly, the application had to be led by and embedded in community organisations primarily working with at least one of the following under-served audiences:

  • People from low socio-economic backgrounds
  • People from minority ethnic backgrounds
  • Older children and young adults aged 11–25 (especially in areas of deprivation)
  • People over 65 (especially in areas of deprivation)
  • People living in rural areas (defined as settlements of fewer than 10,000 people in England and Wales, fewer than 5,000 in Northern Ireland, and fewer than 3,000 in Scotland)
  • People experiencing digital exclusion

Discover the 2026 Awardees

Take the Lead 2026 evaluation report

Exploring public attitudes to health data research across the UK

In early 2025, we commissioned a literature review to understand which under-served audiences our community engagement work should initially focus on. Exploring public attitudes to health data research across the UK, provides an overview of public awareness and understanding of health data and health research. It’s a resource for anyone to use to help shape their own engagement work. As a result of the findings, we are looking to support community organisations working with the following audiences:

  • People from low socio-economic backgrounds
  • People from minority ethnic backgrounds
  • Older children and young adults aged 11–25 (especially in areas of deprivation)
  • People over 65 (especially in areas of deprivation)
  • People living in rural areas (defined as settlements of fewer than 10,000 people in England and Wales, fewer than 5,000 in Northern Ireland, and fewer than 3,000 in Scotland)
  • People experiencing digital exclusion

View the report

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If you have any questions, contact involvement@hdruk.ac.uk.