Forging strong partnerships between charities and researchers
Building strong partnerships between charities and researchers is central to our mission. Since 2022, we’ve joined forces with Maynooth University’s Research Development Office and The Wheel to co-host an annual event that strengthens mutual understanding and trust for future collaboration.
These in-person events bring together charities and Maynooth researchers to exchange ideas, share research needs, and clarify expectations. We highlight successful partnerships, run interactive workshops to spark new connections, and share details on funding opportunities.
Feedback has been really positive — in 2023, 100% of attendees said the event met or exceeded expectations. The impact is clear: in 2024, every participant reported increased confidence in PPI, and 81% made valuable new connections.
Health Research Charities Ireland (HRCI), in partnership with the PPI Ignite Network national office, co-produced Charities & Researchers Partnering for Societal Benefit — a practical guidance document designed to strengthen collaboration across Ireland’s health research system.
The guidance was developed in response to a shared challenge: while charities and researchers increasingly work together, partnerships were often formed without clear expectations around roles, governance, decision-making or fair resourcing. Through a collaborative workshop and an iterative development process involving charities, researchers, research funders and university research offices, we created guidance grounded in real-world experience across both sectors.
Since its publication in 2023, the guide has had measurable impact. It is widely used by charities and universities, embedded in PPI training programmes, and shared nationally and internationally.
A 2024 HRCI member survey showed that 92% of respondents now act as partners in research, up from 74% in 2022.
The work has also informed broader system developments, including changes in funding programme guidance and subsequent work on fair market value for charities in partnership models.
This guidance demonstrates how co-production can move beyond discussion to deliver tangible system change — strengthening partnerships and improving the societal impact of health research.