RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
Research that shapes policy and shifts power.
Selected Projects
The following projects represent the applied research and evaluation work that informs Elysium London’s advisory practice. Each was led by Muhammed Rauf across NHS, local authority, and VCSE settings, delivering evidence that has directly shaped commissioning, policy, and community engagement strategy.
2024
Community Entrepreneurship
Commissioned by: Goldman Sachs | Public Policy Lab
Mapped systemic barriers to entrepreneurship for racialised and ethnically minoritised communities in the UK and internationally. Informed the development of new funding pathways tailored to overlooked founders, blending social impact with commercial viability.
2023
Vital 5 Health Inequalities Programme
Commissioned by: King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Established new baseline understanding of how the “Vital 5” health framework was experienced by under-served groups communities across Lambeth and Southwark. Directly shaped commissioning for the next programme phase.
2023
Participation in Health Research and Clinical Trials
Commissioned by: King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Surfaced deep-rooted barriers to research participation among ethnically minoritised residents, including institutional mistrust and perceived irrelevance. Recommendations directly informed ICS commissioning and engagement strategies.
2023
Cost of Living Community Referral Pathway Evaluation
Commissioned by: Southwark Council
Recommendations formally adopted by Southwark Council, with tangible shifts in operational practice. Grant funds distributed through the pathway nearly doubled post-evaluation, and VCSE partner participation increased markedly.
2022–2023
Chronic Pain Patient Advisory Group
Commissioned by: Lambeth Together
Centred the lived experience of individuals living with chronic pain in Lambeth, surfacing experiences of racial bias and trust issues in care. Contributed to the establishment of the first Chronic Pain Patient Register in Lambeth.
2022
Representative Workforce in the UK Video Game Industry
Commissioned by: UKIE | Digital Schoolhouse
Produced a first-of-its-kind evidence base on workforce diversity and EDI challenges in the UK video game industry. Identified structural barriers facing racialised workers and informed recommendations for more equitable talent development.
2022–2023
Rebuilding Trust through Community Engagement and Empowerment
Commissioned by: Southwark Council
Findings presented to Cabinet and embedded into borough-wide strategic planning. Developed a locally grounded community-centred definition, adopted by the council under the term “community empowerment” and now referenced across council departments to guide equity-focused policy.
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If you are looking for research that shifts power to the communities it serves, and evidence that stands up where it counts, tell us what you are working on. It usually starts with a conversation.