A Year of Impact: LIRCH at Campus

Over the past year, the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH) has played a pivotal role in bringing research, community insight and collaboration to life at the Campus for Future Living. 

As the UK’s first dedicated institute of its kind, LIRCH is driven by a clear ambition: to tackle the deep-rooted health inequalities experienced by rural and coastal communities and deliver solutions that truly make a difference. 

Supported by a £10.9 million UK Research and Innovation grant, LIRCH brings together expertise spanning mental health, cancer care, infectious diseases, oral health, digital innovation and community-led research.  

Ranbir Jabanda, Policy, Impact and Engagement Officer at LIRCH, said: “LIRCH and the Campus both share a commitment to ensuring the diverse voices of local communities are heard.  

“By breaking down silos and working together, we can build resilient, proactive rural and coastal communities that deserve representation in research, policy, decision-making, service provision and advocacy.  

“We look forward to seeing our community engagement efforts in Mablethorpe grow, building trust with the local community and listening to individual and collective lived experiences.  

“By having a local focus, this will increase participation, empower residents, and help to tailor recommendations and solutions." 

Its mission is grounded in partnership – working closely with local people, service providers and organisations to ensure research is shaped by real-world experience. 

This commitment to co-production was evident from the outset.  

In May 2025, LIRCH helped mark the beginning of activity at the Campus for Future Living with its inaugural World Café event. Bringing together more than 35 participants – including residents, researchers and policymakers – the session explored the lived experiences of people facing extreme isolation and loneliness, often described as the ‘People Nobody Knows’.  

The insights generated are already informing discussions with local authorities, ensuring that voices from the community directly influence future service design. 

Momentum continued to build throughout the year. The official launch of LIRCH at the campus in June 2025 welcomed around 100 guests, cementing Mablethorpe’s role as a national hub for rural and coastal health innovation. Further engagement followed, including a second World Café focused on care home research, and a growing programme of workshops and collaborative events. 

By early 2026, LIRCH’s presence had deepened further, with Community Researchers using the campus as a base for engagement and outreach. The campus also featured as a key destination during LIRCH’s ‘Road Trips’ programme, extending the reach of its inaugural conference and showcasing local work to wider audiences. 

At the heart of this success is a strong and evolving partnership. LIRCH and the Campus for Future Living share a commitment to collaboration, with joint working across community engagement, co-production and wellbeing initiatives.  

With shared expertise, cross-board representation and a growing programme of activity, the relationship continues to strengthen. 

As LIRCH looks ahead, the past year at Mablethorpe stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when research, community and place come together – creating healthier futures for rural and coastal communities, both locally and beyond.