Samenvatting

To outline key practice insights from the Groningen case study, an applied example of community-embedded citizen science within the international project EnRICH-HABITS. The initiative engaged local residents as “Neighbourhood Detectives” who used photovoice to document and map their lived environments as a basis for co-creating improvement ideas for health-enhancing physical activity and wellbeing. The primary aim is to share practical lessons on connecting research processes with community priorities and the realities of local engagement. The project involved the collaborative development and implementation of participatory research activities in a neighbourhood setting. We partnered with existing community initiatives and networks, negotiated expectations with stakeholders, and adapted recruitment strategies to engage “hard-to-reach” participants. Evaluation encompassed reflection on engagement processes and on challenges that arose from balancing research objectives with building trust and meaningful relationships in the community. Dissemination strategies included sharing findings with residents, local partners, and project teams across contexts to inform iterative improvements. Engagement efforts revealed the importance of aligning research aims with community agendas and the value of flexibility in practice. Key enablers included locally trusted partners and adaptive methods that responded to participant priorities, while barriers emerged in balancing methodological rigour with relationship building. Recruitment of diverse participants required sustained outreach and trust-building. Embedding research within local contexts promotes meaningful engagement but necessitates ongoing adaptation. Lessons learned highlight strategies for strengthening practicecommunity linkages and offer transferable insights for similar community-based health promotion efforts.