Informal conversations in café settings are getting diverse communities talking about their experiences of health and care – in a project aimed at making research more inclusive.
Four research café sessions have taken place so far across south west London, helping shape the future design and delivery of services – so they work better for local communities.
One participant called the new approach a “novel, informative and interesting experience – [we] need more such sessions.” For another it was “uplifting to be involved in creating awareness about diverse needs.”
People in our communities have strong views about research. These cafes are safe spaces to talk about those issues.”
According to Dr Josephine Ocloo, senior researcher on the café project at Kings College London: “People from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely to be invited to get involved with health research – both clinical and qualitative – but are more likely to have a worse experience of healthcare and to be disproportionately affected by health inequalities. That ultimately impacts on the services we provide.
“These cafes are about enabling people from diverse communities to come together and explore new approaches to wider involvement and participation. People in our communities have strong views about research. These cafes are safe spaces to talk about those issues.”
The approach was really innovative and I was blown away with how much people engaged with us.”
The first cafe was held at Tooting Community Kitchen followed by a session in Kingston’s Magpie Café (main picture) aimed at the Korean community. As Dr Ocloo explained: “The approach was really innovative and I was blown away with how much people engaged with us.
“They felt they could talk about their negative experiences of services – of discrimination and cultural insensitivity. They talked about barriers like information gaps, lack of translation and not being listened to.
“The cafes were a great space to have those conversations and build trust; to demonstrate that there are opportunities for people to put those experiences to use and make a difference by being involved, including as peer researchers.
“This type of collaborative working builds on longstanding and innovative initiatives already being done by the community organisations involved with the café work to engage with people from Black, Asian and other diverse communities.”
Research cafes are a new way of working with communities and helping them get involved in research.”
Further research cafés followed at Centre of Change in Croydon and People Arise Now in Sutton.
Dr Catherine Heffernan, director of health improvement at NHS South West London said: “Research cafes are a new way of working with communities and helping them get involved in research. I am so happy to see south west London trailblazing this way of improving health and health services. We are really pleased with the outcome of these cafés, and look forward to continuing to work to break down barriers across south west London.”
Sapna Kurade, research assistant from King’s College London added: “Witnessing people from diverse backgrounds being involved in the café events was truly inspiring. It’s a call to continue to break down barriers and find methods to foster inclusivity across the research landscape, ensuring everyone’s voice contributes to health and care research.”
The café project was developed by the South West London Health Research Collaborative, led by NHS South West London and funded by NHS England and King’s College London. South West London’s new VCSE Alliance worked with voluntary sector mental health cafés to develop the project in familiar settings.
A new South West London research support Network, launching this month, will be a chance to build on and address issues around research inclusivity that were raised in the cafes. The network will launch with an event on 16 May, from 1pm to 4pm at Oru Spaces, Sutton. Find out more and book on Eventbrite.