We’re thrilled to announce that our article, “Building trust and inclusion with under-served groups: a public involvement project employing a knowledge mobilisation approach,” has been selected as Article of the Month by Research Involvement and Engagement.
This milestone highlights the impact of our Community Conversations initiative, a collaboration between the NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre, University of Leeds, University of Keele, and community partners including Healthwatch Leeds, Leeds Involving People, Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent, and Expert Citizens.
The Power of Community Conversations
Funded by NIHR’s “Developing innovative, inclusive, and diverse public partnerships” programme, the project brought together researchers and under-served communities to foster trust and mutual understanding. Community Conversations were designed collaboratively, with formats ranging from large events to focused group discussions. Over 100 participants shared valuable insights into barriers and opportunities for inclusive health research.
Key themes emerged:
- Building trust through relevance, appreciation, and accessibility.
- Prioritising flexible and inclusive research practices.
- Addressing language, cultural, and accessibility needs.
Continuing the Journey
The lessons learned are shaping ongoing efforts, including:
- Researcher training to promote inclusivity and awareness.
- Community-led events and initiatives.
- Development of disability and Deaf awareness training in partnership with local organisations.
These activities continue to deepen partnerships and ensure that health research is not only inclusive but also community-driven.
Learn more about our work and its impact by reading the full article here.