Diverse Research Engagement Network
Improving the inclusion of under-served, racially-minoritised communities in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire in health and care research.
How to join the Network
The Network meets monthly on a Friday. Meetings are informal. If you have a topic that you would find useful to discuss, anyone else that you would like to invite to the Network, or any other questions, please get in touch with Rachel Allbless at:
Who’s involved
Our growing Network has more than 200 members from over 25 organisations, including eight voluntary and community organisations.
There is lots of expertise among members and everyone’s contributions are valued equally.
It meets monthly and is chaired by Primrose Granville, a Bristol Health Partners public contributor with lived experience.
The Network has been funded by NHS England.
What the Network does
The Network is a hub for sharing good work, opportunities and connections.
Together, we are creating a unified and coordinated way of working with diverse communities by developing principles for collaboration.
Whilst the focus is on research, this work will influence health and care workforce development, widening participation in higher education, and service improvement.
To support impactful changes, we also help to organise training for colleagues working on research locally, including anti-racism, allyship, cultural humility and inclusive recruitment.
The Network is led by Caafi Health and Nilaari. It is supported by People in Health West of England.
Health Ambassadors
The Network aims to build trusted relationships with communities through trained, community-embedded Health Ambassadors. These Health Ambassadors:
- run events promoting research in local communities
- promote the importance of taking part in research
- advise researchers to ensure that their research is inclusive of and adaptive to communities’ preferences.
- enhance the diversity of people taking part in research studies so that findings are representative and meaningful.
- work with our ICS and researchers to do research on topics that matter most to our communities.
Do you want to work with diverse communities?
Read our Terms of engagement for researchers working with the BNSSG diverse Research Engagement Network.
Do you have a research idea which involves working with diverse communities?
Do you have a question about the Health Ambassadors?
Email [email protected]
Links and downloads
Resources for researchers wanting to work or co-produce research with diverse communities.
