Bid 1 – Design Council

Research question: Why do built environment professionals create places that contribute to preventable diseases and early death, despite evidence?

Background: In the UK, preventable diseases generate unacceptable and unsustainable social and economic costs; deprived communities are affected disproportionately. there is now widespread recognition that a significant contributor to preventable diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and to loneliness and poor mental health, is the built environment.

Benefit of the research: Insight from the research project will be used to lead a collaboration with other relevant organisations to initiate a fundamental shift in place-making in the UK. The insight will also be used to create, test and develop tools to influence and support key people in creating healthier places.

Bid 2 – Alcohol Concern

Research question: Could improving the provision of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs and bars promote healthier drinking habits, more social interaction and benefit pubs?

Background: 1 in 5 adults in the UK do not drink alcohol, and the number of non-drinking under-25s has increased by 40% since 2005. Because of this trend, bars and pubs are being urged to adapt to the change in consumer behaviour. However, half of pubs stock fewer than 10 types of non-alcoholic drinks, with alcohol being cheaper in some pubs than non-alcoholic drinks.

Benefit of the research: insight from the research project will be used to encourage a change among pubs and bars, while still benefiting them and customers. The research will provide a better understanding of the demand for adult non-alcoholic drinks in pubs, and how this insight can be used to better promote non-alcoholic drinks.

Bid 3 - Sheffield City Council

Research question: What is the best way to offer HIV screening within a primary care setting to groups of people who are most at risk of late HIV diagnosis?

Background: Late diagnosis of HIV is undesirable because it leads to a poorer outcome for the patient, increases the likelihood that HIV has been transmitted to others and leads to increased costs for the health and social care system. A key aspect of improving late diagnosis of HIV is to increase testing for HIV to increase the opportunities for individuals to be diagnosed at an earlier stage.

Benefits of the research: Insight from the research project will be used to help develop an intervention to increase HIV screening in primary care settings.

Bid 4 – Wolverhampton City Council

Research question: What support would benefit target clusters to help them develop a healthy lifestyle and reduce the impact of obesity?

Background: Wolverhampton City Council recently completed a segmentation exercise using a local healthy lifestyle survey. A target segment was identified which contains 58% of the obese population. 67% of this cluster wanted to eat more healthily and 65% of the cluster want to become more active – 60% of these suggested they can do it by themselves.

Benefits of the research: insight from the research will be used to identify the support required to encourage obese residents to lose weight. Furthermore, the research will explore how existing services can be developed further for those who want to lose weight by themselves and how to best utilize community assets.

Bid 5 – Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Research question: How much do the public know – or care – about modern day slavery?

Background: Modern day slavery is a national problem. Following an increase in the number of cases Cambridgeshire Constabulary have had in relation to modern day slavery, it has been established as a force priority. The public play a crucial part in informing the police force of any criminal activity as victims are more often very vulnerable and speak very little English.

Benefits of the research: insights from the research will be used to understand beliefs, views and attitudes held by the public on modern day slavery. This insight will also support future communication plans with the public to encourage the reporting of information and incidents on this issue.

How to vote

To cast your vote, simply submit a comment below to say which bid should win and why! Voting closes on 3rd January 2017. Only one vote per person will be counted!