Our vision and mission
HDRC Surrey’s vision is simple: to reduce health inequalities and make Surrey a healthier place to live by using research and evidence to guide decisions that matter.
We strengthen how local government and partners generate and use research to reflect community needs in decision-making. We do this by building research capacity, fostering collaboration, and embedding a culture of evidence-based practice. Hosted by Surrey County Council, HDRC brings together the local authority, the University of Surrey, and voluntary and community organisations to turn insights into action.
Our aims
- Build research capacity through training and support.
- Strengthen research processes by embedding best practice in local systems.
- Champion public involvement so lived experience shapes priorities and outcomes.
- Drive innovation through collaboration across local government, academia, and the voluntary sector.
- Promote evidence-informed decision-making by integrating research into policy and practice.
- Expand Surrey’s evidence base by generating new insights on wider health determinants.
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.
Why we’re focusing on poverty?
Surrey is often seen as a wealthy county, but there are big differences between the most and least deprived areas. People living in the most deprived parts of Surrey can have a much shorter life expectancy compared to those in the least deprived areas. Tackling poverty can help reduce these health gaps and improve overall wellbeing.
We chose poverty because:
- It’s a priority for Surrey’s Health and Well-Being Strategy , which aims to address the wider factors that affect health.
- It has a big impact on health inequalities with case studies showing that reducing poverty improves health outcomes.
- There’s an evidence gap. We don’t fully understand how well current local interventions work or what new approaches could help.
- Residents told us it matters. Through surveys, panels, and community commissions, people highlighted the cost of living and poverty as major concerns.
- We can make a difference by supporting decision-making, policy change, and targeted action across Surrey.
Poverty affects access to healthy food, housing, education, and opportunities - all of which shape health. By focusing on this research theme, we aim to work with communities and partners to find practical solutions that reduce inequalities and improve lives.
What we might explore under poverty:
- Food and fuel poverty
- Housing and homelessness
- Loneliness and social isolation
- Economy
- Employment
- Transport and active travel
- Climate change
- Physical inactivity
- Community safety
- Air quality and pollution
- Education and long-life learning
The Team
At the heart of HDRC Surrey is a passionate team of researchers, analysts, and engagement specialists who are committed to making Surrey a healthier place to live.
We bring together expertise in health research, evidence translation, and community engagement, working closely with local partners and residents.
Head of HDRC Surrey
Leads HDRC Surrey, setting strategic vision and building partnerships to deliver evidence-driven impact on wider determinants of health.
HDRC Programme Manager
Oversees programme delivery, connecting people and coordinating projects to align with HDRC Surrey's mission and achieve meaningful impact.
HDRC Programme Support Officer
Provides essential coordination and operational support, handling queries and logistics to keep HDRC Surrey running smoothly.
HDRC Qualitative Research Lead
Leads qualitative research, designing rigorous studies and supporting colleagues with specialist advice on research design and analysis.
HDRC Quantitative Research Lead
Leads quantitative research, turning data into actionable insights through statistical analysis and making complex evidence accessible and meaningful.
HDRC Community Researcher, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Community researcher specialising in participatory research and co-production, ensuring community voices guide HDRC Surrey's work in Reigate and Banstead.
HDRC Community Researcher, Good Company
Based in a voluntary sector organisation, engages directly with residents, combining participatory research with practical action to reduce health inequalities.
HDRC Public Involvement Coordinator
Champions public involvement and engagement, building partnerships and leading co-production to ensure communities shape research and decision-making.
University of Surrey Embedded Researcher (Impact and Evaluation Lead)
Leads evaluation work, developing frameworks to measure impact and ensure HDRC's efforts deliver real, lasting benefits for communities.
University of Surrey Embedded Researcher (Qualitative Lead)
Embedded academic specialising in qualitative research, ethics, and translating insights into actionable recommendations for policy and practice.
University of Surrey Embedded Researcher (Quantitative Lead)
Embedded academic providing quantitative research and advanced statistical analysis to help tackle health inequalities through data-driven evidence.
