The NIHR HDRC Leicestershire is part of the NIHR and hosted by Leicestershire County Council. NIHR HDRCs enable local authorities to become more research-active, embedding a culture of evidence-based decision making.
With funding from the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and Leicester University’s Institute for Precision Health, three workshops were run in local secondary schools to capture young people’s views. Co-designed with youth facilitators, the sessions introduced students to research and the wider determinants of health before inviting them to “Build a Healthy Neighbourhood” through an interactive exercise.
The creative outputs – from drawings to facilitator notes – were analysed using thematic analysis, supported by HDRC’s Public Advisory Group. Six key themes emerged, reflecting what young people believe is essential for healthier communities:
- Spacious, affordable and modern housing
- Community, safety, and protection
- Protecting and using green space
- Fun and friends
- Spaces and places that influence health behaviours
- Proximity to wants and needs.
These priorities will guide HDRC’s research agenda alongside wider public engagement and evidence reviews.
These workshops were conducted between April and June 2025, offering a space for students to learn about research, explore the wider determinants of health, and provide feedback on research priorities. Three schools from across the county took part in the workshops, Thomas Estley (Broughton Astley), Limehurst Academy (Loughborough) and Martin High School (Anstey).
Participating schools received a special thank-you visit from Great British Bake-Off finalist and chemist at the University of Leicester, Dr Josh Smalley, who led a session on the science of baking. Josh said: “A huge thank you to the pupils and staff who took part so enthusiastically – your curiosity, questions, and interactions made the workshop such a joy to deliver. From exploring the role of science in our kitchens to the taste-testing of sourdough, it was fantastic to see students so engaged in understanding the chemistry behind flavour, nutrition, and baking from scratch.”
Jasmine Lewis, Student Manager at The Martin High School, said “On behalf of the learners at Martin’s, we truly appreciated and enjoyed Josh’s visit. Our young bakers greatly valued the expertise and knowledge he shared throughout the workshop. Josh’s baking story was both engaging and inspiring, making it a memorable and special end to the school year for everyone involved.”