Oxfordshire Community Research Network (OCRN)

Oxfordshire Community Research Network (OCRN)

The Oxfordshire Community Research Network (OCRN) is a growing alliance of community groups, voluntary sector organisations, academic institutions, health partners, and local authorities working together to champion inclusive, community led‑ research across Oxfordshire. It was launched in March 2023 with UKRI funding to help address local inequalities and ensure research genuinely reflects the lived experiences of our communities.

OCRN brings together over 100 members from organisations spanning community, faith, academic, VCSE and statutory sectors, with reach across Oxford, Witney, Banbury and the wider county.

What the network does

OCRN supports people and organisations to shape, lead, and participate in research by offering:

  • Community led research‑ opportunities, including an incubator fund and small grant‑ programmes for local projects.
  • Training and mentoring, pairing community members with researchers to build skills, confidence, and capacity building in participatory research.
  • A collaborative platform for sharing opportunities, promote inclusivity in local research, identify priorities, encourage co-creation, engagement with under-served groups, connecting partners, and showcasing local research impact through newsletters, events, and an annual community research showcase.

Our guiding principles

Rooted in the values identified through community workshops and Healthwatch Oxfordshire insights, OCRN is committed to:

  • Nothing about us without us
  • Valuing lived experience and people’s time
  • Being open, transparent and accountable
  • Turning insight into action

Why these matter

OCRN strengthens partnerships between communities, researchers, and public bodies, helping to generate research that is useful, inclusive, and genuinely impactful. By shifting power towards communities, the network supports better decision making‑, deeper understanding of inequality, and more locally grounded solutions for Oxfordshire.

To be added soon

  • Community Research Repository
  • Upcoming partner events
  • Upcoming opportunities