LEAP Digital Health Community Innovators

Bringing lived experience to the heart of digital health research

Have you ever thought: “There must be a better way to do this”?

Is there a health challenge that you have experienced or that you see in your community that

you think could be solved using digital technology?

LEAP Digital Health Hub are looking for people who are:

• Involved in community groups or charities

• Working in social care or assisted living

• Patients with lived experience

• Informal carers

They want to work with you to co-develop your ideas and turn your experience into impactful

digital health research and innovation.

You don’t need a research background or technical skills, just a problem you care about

solving, and a passion for making things better.

What is the Community Innovator Scheme?

LEAP Digital Health Hub is launching this new scheme designed especially for people with

real-world experience of health and care in the community, who want to make a difference

and explore digital ways to improve lives.

It is a collaborative programme where we help you turn your ideas and insights into an early-

stage digital health solution.

Whether it’s a challenge you’ve faced as a carer, a gap you’ve spotted in your community

service, or a better way to support people with long-term conditions, they want to work with

you to explore what’s possible.

What will being a Community Innovator involve?

If your application is successful:

• You will be partnered with a LEAP researcher to develop your challenge during a

short meeting in October

• You will then attend the Community Sandpit Event in Bristol in early November.

During the Sandpit:

• You (or your LEAP researcher) will present your challenge to other attendees,

including researchers, NHS partners, and industry experts

• You will have the chance to talk to others about your challenge and find

people who can work with you to investigate it further.

• If you find a team to work with at the Sandpit, there will be a second application (to

be completed by an academic) for a small amount of funding (£10,000) to be used to

develop your idea further.

You’ll also have access to:

• Mentoring and guidance to navigate the digital health space

• Free access to LEAP’s Skills and Knowledge Programme

• Opportunities to make use of University co-working spaces and resources

  
  

You’ll be part of a growing network of people using their experience to shape better health

and care services.

How to apply

• Complete the short online application form by midnight (BST) on Monday 6 October

• 5-10 successful applicants will be progressed

• Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 13 October

Full details and how to apply: https://leap-hub.ac.uk/leap-digital-health-community-

innovators/