About us
Mission
Community Knowledge Matters is a network bringing together people interested in community-led research shaping practice & policy change.
This began specifically with a focus on the Highlands and Islands and on mental wellbeing, but since 2025 the network is broader foregrounding rural and island Scotland and wider research topics.
The network will build collective voice and capacity through a programme of activities – including network events, collation of resources and funded training opportunities – working together to support more community knowledge represented at a systemic level.
Who is this for?
Anyone is welcome to join, including:
Grassroots communities and organisations especially in rural and island Scotland who are interested in being more involved in research to support community action including around mental health and wellbeing.
Researchers who are keen to support more equitable processes and partnerships that centre communities through an ethics of care.
Practitioners and decision-makers interested in being more driven by community-led research and working together to support a more equitable and diverse system evidence-base.
Stakeholders from across Scotland and beyond interested in learning from this network and sharing your own experiences.
Join the network
How can you get involved?
Community of Practice (CoP)
To help foster connections, build relationships and share opportunities, news and challenges together we have monthly peer “community of practice” open to all.
CommunityLab Forum
To keep conversations going on between these sessions, we have an online space as part a collaboration with platform CommunityLab. Sign up to the forum and start a conversation by introducing yourself.
Resources, news and training
There’s already lots of excellent activities and resources supporting community-research out there - we’re keen to bring this together to make it as easy to access as possible.
We’re also mapping consultations and ethics processes happening across Highlands and Islands already, and trialing tools and approaches which support more equitable conversations and research with marginalised communities in Shetland, Western Isles and North Highland.
Later there will be funded training opportunities to support capacity-building available for members.
Share resources and opportunities
If you have resources, activities, events and wider opportunities you’d like to have added, share them directly on the CommunityLab space and we can make sure they are added to the website.
Collective advocacy
Working with members we’ll be deciding how best to support collective action together to advocate for better community-research and for community knowledge to be better represented in decision-making.
This could include compiling collective responses and evidence-building together. All members are encouraged to feed in through our stakeholder conversations and get involved in specific working groups.
Getting Started:
Join our next Community of Practice to find out more about how to be involved in decision making.
Get in touch with our network coordinators to find out about joining specific working groups.
Upcoming activities
In-person Gathering 2025
Know more about the 2025 edition here, including information about the event, the programme, and the Community Bursary Scheme.
Read our latest Blog and News
A new fully-funded online research training programme for Health & Care practitioners in Scotland
General registration for the Community Knowledge Matters 2025 Gathering is now open!
Co-Priority Survey New Data Platform
how can communities be centred in mental health and wellbeing research?
Research Matters
Listen to members of Community Knowledge Matters share their views on why research is important to them and their communities.
Members of our network explain what 'community knowledge' and 'community-led research' mean to them.
Our members describe ways in which evidence from communities and people with lived experience can be better listened to (and valued) by policy and decision makers.
Find out more
Community Knowledge Matters is a working name for the network and programme, funded by The Ideas Fund and Wellcome. It is currently supported by a steering group including members from the British Science Association, the Science Scottish Community Development Centre, Youthlink Scotland & Third Sector Research Forum, Moray Wellbeing Hub, Scottish Policy and Research Exchange, the Scottish Public Engagement Network, OPEN Shetland, the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care, the University of the Highlands and Islands and Community Energy Scotland. It is facilitated by Science Ceilidh.
join the network and introduce yourself
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get in touch
