FRRESH

Over 10 million people live in rural areas in the UK. The reality for many people living in rural, compared to urban, areas is one of health inequality (e.g. access to healthcare services, lack of adequate funding, healthcare staff recruitment and retention difficulties), social isolation, and a lack of adequate transport services. Yet, rural populations remain under-represented in research on health and wellbeing. 

Forum for Rural Research on Health and Wellbeing (FRRESH)

The Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences in collaboration with Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Community Animation and Social Innovation Centre and New Vic Borderlines have established a new initiative, which we have called FRRESH. FRRESH is the Forum for Rurual Research on Health and Wellbeing. This initiative aims to address the current rural gap in research through community engagement to drive research development. The forum has been established to provide a fresh perspective on rural health and wellbeing and is funded by Keele Innovation Fund.

We aim to deliver four interactive workshops to engage with a diverse range of rural stakeholders from across Staffordshire and Shropshire including academics, clinicians, NHS commissioners, members of the public, council members and services, and third sector organisations. At the end of the initiative (2019), we will host a large community engagement event to share key messages about rural health challenges.