Voice UK Community

26/03/2026

❤️ Have you or someone you care for been diagnosed with breast cancer?

Newcastle University are looking for people who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, or care for someone with a diagnosis, to help shape and guide an important research project exploring breast cancer risk in patients who have undergone CT scans.

🎁 You’ll take part in just two online meetings (around 1 hour each), and receive up to £100 gift card as a thank you for your time.

Your voice can help shape research that could make a real difference!

👇 Find out more here:

https://bit.ly/4uQSMRA

25/03/2026

💡 How could genetics guide mental health treatment?

Researchers from Newcastle University want to hear from adults who have taken medication for a mental health condition. Your experiences can help shape how the NHS uses genetic information to improve treatment.

What’s involved?

• Fill in a short demographic questionnaire
• Join a 45–60 minute online interview with one of our friendly researchers

The conversation will be relaxed and informal.

🎁 You will receive a £25 voucher as a thank you.

Interested? Find out more here👇

https://bit.ly/4t00iYt

24/03/2026

🌍 As part of our global conversations on friendship and living longer, we’ve been listening to people around the world share what connection really means in their lives.

We know from research that being socially isolated increases the risk of dying earlier.

And yet, we don’t always think about connection in the same way we think about other parts of our health.

At Voice + the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA), this is the question we’re really interested in: "How do we create more connection, more friendship, more togetherness in everyday life?"

And we start by listening.

In Taiwan, Voice member 81-year-old Mrs Chi shared something that really captures what good friendship looks like: “If we haven’t been in touch for a few days, I’ll call her.”

For her, it comes down to this insight: “Connection cannot depend on chance.”

It’s a simple idea, but it is very powerful.

Friendship isn’t just something that happens over time.

- It’s something we take part in
- It's something we must keep going
- It's something that helps us stay well

Connection matters, but we have to do something to keep it going.

👉 Read Mrs Chi’s full story here: https://bit.ly/4rK7qXX

19/03/2026

Have you or someone close to you had experience with prostate cancer?

The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit is designing a new study to explore whether “liquid biopsy” blood tests could help improve the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Researchers from the University of Southampton are inviting people with experience of prostate cancer to take part in a short survey to share their thoughts on the study idea and what participation would involve.

💬 Your feedback will help shape a funding application for the research and ensure real perspectives are considered from the very beginning.

👇 Take the short survey here:
https://bit.ly/4dn4Vau

18/03/2026

Have you had breast-related surgery?

Our programme, the Internet of Caring Things (IoCT), is inviting women to take part in a short 7-minute survey about experiences with post-surgery recovery wear.

Your insights could help improve post-surgery garments and recovery experiences for women in the future.

🎁 As a thank you, people who take part will be entered into a £50 prize draw.

👇 Take part here:
https://bit.ly/4se4J23

17/03/2026

🏋️‍♂️ Have you ever walked into a gym and felt like it just wasn’t for you?

Most people don’t use gyms at all. Yet we spend billions developing new fitness technology and ever more sophisticated training spaces.

In our latest story, we explore a different idea from Wave Active in the UK. At one leisure centre, a new space called Lilian’s Room has been created for people who might normally feel excluded from gyms, including those rebuilding strength after illness or living with long-term health conditions.

One member described her experience: “I feel like I’m glowing. This is going to change my life.” In a sector often focused on performance and metrics, that word, 'glowing,' feels quietly powerful.

As more of us live longer lives, perhaps the real question isn’t how fit the fittest can become, but how we create spaces where more people feel comfortable rebuilding strength, confidence and connection.

What if gyms were places that helped us recover, rebuild strength and regain confidence, not just get fitter? What do you think?

📖 Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/40ysgi6

16/03/2026

📣 Are you a man aged 55–70?

We’re looking for men to take part in a one-hour online interview about mid-life, lifestyle, hobbies, media habits and attitudes to brands.

The conversation will help inform a new research project with the Silver Marketing Association exploring how mid-life men are represented and understood. This group is often overlooked in research and media, so your experiences and perspectives can make a real difference.

💬 If you take part, your insights may be included in a new research report launching at the Silver Marketing Summit in July 2026.

Interested in getting involved?

👇 Find out more and register your interest here:

https://bit.ly/4sTm1l7

12/03/2026

Expertise can come from many places — years of experience, a lifelong interest, or knowledge you’ve built over time.

We want to hear what you think!

Take a moment to vote in our quick poll 👇

https://bit.ly/4lrZWHG

12/03/2026

Really important research highlighting a gap many people might not realise exists.

While concussion is widely recognised, awareness of sub-concussions and their long-term impact still seems very low. Understanding these risks is a vital step towards better protecting young players and supporting safer sport for future generations.

Great to see our members taking part in work like this, helping to bring more attention to brain health in sport. 🧠🏉



Rezon Newcastle University

New research highlights a worrying gap in awareness about brain injury in sport.

The Rezon Brain Protection Survey, developed with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and Voice UK Community at Newcastle University, asked parents, players and coaches what they know about concussion and brain injury.

While most people recognise concussion, far fewer understand sub-concussions, smaller force, asymptomatic impacts that happen frequently in sport and cause damage to the brain over time.

Only 4% of respondents recognised sub-concussions as the main contributor to CTE, a neurodegenerative disease that leads to early onset dementia.

The survey also found that many parents believe children are less at risk of brain injury than adults, when research suggests the developing brain is actually more vulnerable.

Understanding these risks is an important step in protecting players and supporting safer sport for the current generation.

You can read the full survey findings here:
https://www.rezonwear.com/rezon-survey/

Research developed with:
National Innovation Centre for Ageing
VOICE at Newcastle University

11/03/2026

💭 Do you feel like an expert?

When we hear the word "expert", we often think of qualifications, job titles, or years of professional experience. But expertise can take many forms — including knowledge gained through lived experience.

Through our IoCT programme, we explored this question with some of our Voice members, looking at what expertise really means and who gets to define it. Their insights challenge the traditional idea of expertise and highlight why recognising different kinds of knowledge matters.

🔗 Read the full article: https://bit.ly/46XCnk6

Voice members hold skills, knowledge and valuable experience gained from life, caring, hobbies and careers. Yet this expertise often goes unseen, even

10/03/2026

🏫 “I literally left on a Friday at half-term and never went back.”

After 16 years as a primary school assistant head, Anne suddenly found herself retired and facing a completely different pace of life.

Anne’s story shows how it’s never too late to find ways to contribute, connect, and feel truly fulfilled.

“I was without a job and without funds. It was a big shock, from having a busy, busy life to suddenly having nothing.”

At first, life felt… quiet.

“For a long time, I just did nothing. People think you’re living this amazing life, you’re not. It took a lot of getting used to.”

She tried volunteering, charity shops, and herbal medical trials, but something was missing.

Then her brother-in-law introduced her to the Voice community. She admits she was nervous about Zoom, but she gave it a try.

“I spoke to a lovely girl who was doing a project in America, and it was great. I really enjoyed it, and I got paid. Even better!”

This experience opened the door to a whole new world of connection and purpose.

One of Anne’s most meaningful roles has been on a panel for type 2 diabetes research. With her partner living with the condition, it hit close to home.

“My partner’s type 2 diabetic. It gives me insight, and I feel that my experience might be useful or worthwhile.”

She’s also taken part in research on hearing and dementia, topics that matter to her personally.

“I can feel my own memory changing. I really feel like I’m contributing to that.”

For Anne, having a clear purpose has been life-changing.

“Everybody needs to feel needed by something or somebody. When you’ve spent years in a tiny school, knowing every parent, every grandparent, suddenly not being part of that was hard.”

Through Voice, she’s found that sense of connection again.

“There’s a community, and you get to meet lots of different people and do different things. At the heart of it, you’re making a contribution, and that is definitely the main thing for me.”

Meeting people and having “good little chats” has been just as valuable as the projects themselves.

“I like being me. I like feeling that I’m making a contribution to wider society, and maybe in the future my grandchildren won’t face certain challenges because of the work we’re doing.”

Anne’s story reminds us that purpose and connection can transform life at any stage.

Voice isn’t just a platform, it’s a place to share, learn, and make a difference.

“I like being me. I like feeling that I’m making a contribution to wider society.”

❤️ At 63, Anne proves that meaningful involvement, curiosity, and connection are timeless.

If you'd like to get involved with Voice too, take a look at our opportunities this week below! 👇

https://voice-global.org/

05/03/2026

“My biggest regret is that I didn’t do this earlier. Time goes quickly.”

At 74, Voice member Carol is reflecting on rediscovering her childhood love of art and the joy and fulfilment it has brought back into her life.🎨

Her story is a powerful reminder that the things we loved as children do not disappear. They stay with us, waiting to be picked up again.

It is never too late to reconnect with what once made you feel alive.

Read Carol’s full story and be inspired by her journey.👇

https://bit.ly/4u5AGuP