HDRC Surrey is all about making Surrey a healthier place to live, by strengthening how local government generates and uses research to shape decisions that truly reflect the needs of the community.
We are inspired by evidence: how it helps us understand what shapes our health and how it guides decisions that make a real difference.
Just as importantly, we are driven by collaboration: listening to our residents and working closely with our partners to make sure the evidence we gather is robust and used effectively.
We explore the broader factors that influence health and wellbeing – from poverty and housing to transport and access to employment and education. By focusing on these “wider determinants of health” or “building blocks of health”, we aim to reduce health inequalities and improve life outcomes for all.
Learn more about HDRCs
Surrey County Council is one of 30 local authorities across the UK that have been awarded funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to establish a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) .
Learn about the strategy and ambitions behind HDRCs in this short film.
We strengthen research by improving tools, ethics support, and governance so evidence can guide better decisions.
We help local authorities, partners, and communities to build the skills and confidence to design, deliver, and use research that makes a difference.
We make research easy to access and trusted by sharing evidence widely and connecting people through networks and collaboration.
We measure what works and embed evidence into everyday practice to ensure research leads to real change.
We put community voices at the heart of research, co-producing ideas and solutions that reflect lived experience.
Areas of research interest
Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) are priority topics that guide our research efforts. At HDRC Surrey, these themes are co-produced with local partners and communities to make sure our research focuses on the issues that matter most. The overarching research priority identified for Surrey is poverty, which will be the main focus of our work.
Why we're focusing on poverty?2025 | Building Strong Foundations
- HDRC Surrey team and governance structures in place
- Strong partnerships established across the collaborative
- Developed the HDRC Surrey training programme
- Completed a research skills needs assessment
- Public involvement panels launched in East and West Surrey
- Poverty identified as a key research priority
- Delivered first research projects on poverty, employment, and active travel
2026 | Growing Capacity & Culture
- Deliver the HDRC Surrey training programme
- Launch the Research Champion programme (local authority staff)
- Pilot the Peer Researcher training programme (community members)
- Launch the HDRC Surrey online request form
- Support the use research and evidence in decision-making
- Co-host the annual HDRC conference
- Launch the Research Exchange Forum
- Deliver research projects on priority areas
- Secure research funding to support programme sustainability
2027 | Embedding Public Voice & Collaboration
- Expand public involvement in research through community events (research cafés, creative workshops)
- Strengthen HDRC Surrey communications with newsletter, case studies and storytelling
- Continue to generate new evidence on research priorities
- Building a stronger evidence-informed culture
- Setting up research networks and a community of practice
- Carry out programme evaluation activities
2028 | Delivering Insights and Systems Change
- Ongoing knowledge mobilisation
- Continued evaluation of HDRC Surrey activities
- Clear impacts and outcomes from HDRC Surrey research
- Plan programme sustainability, including securing further research funding
2029 | Impact & Legacy
- Research culture embedded in local authority
- Public involvement fully integrated
- Evidence routinely shapes major policies
- Strong, lasting partnerships across councils, the voluntary sector and academia
- Contribute to reducing health inequalities in Surrey
Destination 2029:
A healthier, fairer Surrey where decisions are informed by evidence and shaped by residents.
Involving Surrey's Public In Research And Evidence
We work with local communities to co-design research on the wider factors that affect health to drive meaningful change that improves lives across Surrey.
INSPIRE makes research inclusive, accessible, and rooted in real-life experience through open dialogue and shared learning.
