Blackburn Rovers Community Trust (BRCT), the official charity of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has launched a groundbreaking inclusive scheme in partnership with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) to not only make it easier for people to be part of health and care research, but to also raise awareness in diverse communities across Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire.

Titled ‘Rovers Reach’, the Community Trust received funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) – an official research partner of the NHS, public health and social care – to provide accessible opportunities for people to take part in vital research studies at Ewood Park, focusing on developing new treatments, finding better ways to manage and prevent the onset of health conditions, and providing better care.

The project aligns with key NIHR objectives and the government’s 10 Year Health Plan to make research more accessible by broadening opportunities into the community, away from hospitals and other traditional health and care settings. It also aligns with the NIHR’s aim to increase the diversity of people taking part in research so new findings and treatments work for and benefit everyone.

Initially taking place over 12 months, Rovers Reach is set to combine the Club’s strong community connection with ELHT’s clinical expertise, reaching out to people of all ages and backgrounds, whether they are healthy, or living with long-term health conditions.

BRCT will also extend these opportunities through its catalogue of over 50 trusted programmes which reach into the heart of the local community, catering to schools and colleges, young people and families, older adults and people with specific health conditions, as well as health and wellbeing services for vulnerable people.

Moreover, the partnership will aim to create a legacy to increase community awareness that will be shared with other Clubs via the EFL.

Ilyas Patel, Community Inclusion Manager at Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, said:

“We’re really excited to launch this partnership with East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, supported by NIHR funding, to create a community-based research hub at Ewood Park. We’re proud to be part of a collaboration that places the health and wellbeing of our community at its heart. By hosting research initiatives here at Ewood Park and also out in the local community, we’re creating a welcoming, stigma-free environment where people feel empowered to contribute to the future of healthcare. Together, we’re working to make research more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful for everyone in Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire.”

Alison McLoughlin, Clinical Research Development Lead at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“This partnership makes a significant step forward in making health research more accessible and inclusive. By bringing research into the heart of the community at Ewood Park, we’re breaking down barriers and building trust - ultimately working towards ensuring everyone has the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from cutting-edge health and care advancements.”

Professor Andy Ustianowski, Director of NIHR North West Regional Research Delivery Network, added:

“We’re proud to be supporting this innovative project as part of our latest strategic funding programme. Rovers Reach aligns perfectly with our aims to bring more research into everyday places where it’s easier for people to take part, and to reach underserved communities where traditionally there hasn’t been as much involvement in research. The huge reach of the football club and its strong community ties give the project enormous potential to create a meaningful and lasting impact.”

Rovers kick off landmark health research project

Rovers kick off landmark health research project