Last updated: 17 April 2026
ABOUT
The Collaboration for Mental Wealth in Moray is a community research network hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC. We bring together local residents, peer researchers, partner organisations and community groups to explore what creates mental wealth in Moray through co‑creation, lived‑experience leadership, and community‑driven action.
We are part of the UK‑wide Community Research Networks programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and delivered by The Young Foundation. This national programme runs until 2029, supporting places like Moray to build stronger community research ecosystems and generate meaningful, people‑powered evidence.
At the heart of our work is CHIME — Connection, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment — guiding how we collaborate, share learning, and grow mental wealth across Moray.
OUR MISSION
Our purpose is to build a mentally wealthy Moray by empowering communities to lead research, share lived experiences, and co‑create meaningful solutions that strengthen wellbeing across the region.
We focus on shifting research power towards community expertise, lived experience, and collaborative decision-making.
Our mission is to grow a community‑driven research network where the people of Moray can explore what mental wealth means to them, generate local knowledge, and use evidence to shape positive, sustainable change.
By centring co‑production, connection, and lived experience, we aim to make research accessible, relevant and rooted in real community priorities.
What we Aim to Achieve
Our work focuses on four core objectives:
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Increase community research capacity by equipping people with the skills, confidence and support to lead their own research.
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Strengthen data and knowledge creation through community‑led inquiry, peer research and collaborative learning.
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Share and collate community knowledge in ways that influence services, partnerships and policy.
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Develop values‑led research tools and infrastructure, guided by CHIME — Connection, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment.
THE CHIME FRAMEWORK
Everything we do in the Collaboration for Mental Wealth in Moray is guided by CHIME — a wellbeing framework that helps shape how we work, how we collaborate, and how we build mental wealth across Moray.
CHIME stands for Connection, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment, and these principles run through our research, capacity building, communications and community engagement.
CONNECTION
We strengthen relationships between community members, peer researchers, partners, and organisations — creating a supportive network where people feel included and valued.
Connection is central to building trust and growing a vibrant research community.
HOPE
We promote optimism and possibility by showing how community‑led research can create meaningful, positive change.
Hope encourages people to get involved, believe in their impact, and stay engaged over time.
IDENTITY
We support people to recognise their strengths, lived experience, and value as researchers and contributors to mental wealth in Moray.
Building identity helps individuals grow confidence and ownership in their role.
MEANING
Research should matter to the people it involves.
We ensure our activities are rooted in community priorities and local experience, helping people see purpose, relevance, and real-world value in the work they do together.
EMPOWERMENT
We give communities the tools, skills, and opportunities to shape their own research, influence decisions, and drive local change.
Empowerment means everyone has a voice — and can use it confidently.
What CHIME Means to Us
HOW WE WORK
A Community‑Led, Collaborative Approach
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We work through co‑production, bringing together community members, peer researchers, partner organisations, and local services to explore what creates mental wealth in Moray.
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This means people with lived experience shape research questions, activities, evidence gathering and decision‑making — not just participate in them.
Lived Experience at the Centre
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Our network recognises that everyone brings valuable knowledge.
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Peer researchers and community members lead enquiries, share their stories, and help interpret findings in ways that reflect real life in Moray.
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This strengthens research, builds confidence, and ensures that outcomes truly reflect local priorities.
Working in Partnership
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The Collaboration is delivered by a network of partners. Together, we connect skills, knowledge and local insight to build a strong research ecosystem for Moray.
CHIME in Practice
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Connection, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment shape how we work every day — from the way we host meetings and build relationships to how we design research, communicate findings, and support people to grow as community researchers.
Accessible, Inclusive, Strength‑Based
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We use warm, plain language, celebrate strengths, and avoid jargon so that everyone can understand, contribute and participate with confidence.
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Our work is rooted in real experiences and real places across Moray, ensuring research feels meaningful and accessible to the people it serves.
Building Skills and Confidence
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We support people to learn practical research skills, grow their identity as researchers, and build confidence in sharing evidence and insights.
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Workshops, learning events, sharing ceilidhs, storytelling, and hands‑on practice help people grow as researchers and leaders in their communities.
Driven by Shared Learning
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We create opportunities for connection, reflection and collaboration — across partners, researchers, communities, and institutions.
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Learning is shared openly so that everyone benefits, not just the project.
GOVERNANCE & FUNDING
Who funds the project?
The Collaboration for Mental Wealth in Moray is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Community Research Networks programme. This is a five‑year UK‑wide investment that helps communities lead research that matters to them. The programme is coordinated nationally by The Young Foundation, who connect Moray with other networks across the UK.
Who hosts the project?
The project is hosted by Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC, a local social enterprise rooted in lived experience and community action. They bring partners together, support coordination, and help make sure the work stays grounded in what matters to people in Moray.
How we are governed
Our network is guided by a collaborative structure that brings together community voices, partners, and lived experience. This includes:
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Steering Committee – helps shape the overall direction of the network
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Working Groups – focus on areas like engagement, communications and research
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Advisory Group – offers insight, challenge and specialist knowledge
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Citizen Panel – ensures community perspectives guide decisions
Together, these groups help us stay transparent, inclusive and community‑led.
How we ensure quality and accountability
We are committed to being open, trustworthy and responsive. To support this, we:
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regularly review our activities and priorities
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check that our information is clear, current and accessible
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invite feedback from partners and community members
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involve our Citizen Panel in shaping how we communicate and share learning
These simple practices help us stay aligned with our values and ensure the network reflects the voices of the people it serves
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE
A strong local focus
Everything we do is shaped by Moray’s people, places and priorities. Our work is rooted in local knowledge, rural experience and the strengths already present in our communities. This place‑based approach means the ideas we develop genuinely reflect life in Moray.
Led by lived experience
People with lived experience are at the heart of the network. Their insight guides our decisions, shapes our projects and keeps our work grounded in real stories and everyday expertise. We believe everyone has knowledge worth sharing.
Committed to accessibility and inclusion
We want everyone to feel welcome and able to take part. That means using clear, friendly language, offering different ways to get involved, and designing events and resources that are as accessible as possible. We work with partners who bring strong equality and inclusion expertise to make sure all voices are heard.
Guided by shared values
Our values shape how we work together and how we support mental wealth in Moray. We prioritise connection, openness, kindness, collaboration and community‑led action. These values help us build trust and create spaces where people feel respected and empowered.
CONNECT WITH US
Follow us on Social Media
Keep an eye on our social media channels for the latest updates. We post about events, workshops and new opportunities as they come up.
