Research at ARU addresses the structural causes of inequality and develops evidence-based solutions that promote social inclusion, improve health outcomes and increase access to services for underrepresented communities.
Here you will find examples which showcase our work with refugees, migrants, marginalised populations and communities experiencing exclusion, where researchers collaborate directly with public bodies, healthcare providers, charities and community organisations to influence policy and practice at local, national and international levels.
MigRefHealth: Co-creating solutions to refugee and migrant health exclusion
One of ARU's flagship SDG 10 projects is MigRefHealth, a major UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded programme examining how refugees, asylum seekers and migrants access community assets that support health and wellbeing. Running from 2024 to 2027, the project investigates barriers relating to accommodation, food security, transport, healthcare access and wider services across 12 communities in the East of England and London. The £2.43 million initiative is led by Professor Margaret Greenfields, Profesor of Social Policy at ARU, in partnership with universities, NHS organisations, local authorities, charities and community groups. By generating evidence on how community assets can reduce health inequalities, the project aims to inform scalable interventions that can be adopted by Integrated Care Systems and other public-sector bodies.
Inclusion Health Research in the East of England
Our Primary Care Research Centre (PCRC) leads an extensive programme of inclusion health research focused on populations experiencing some of the most severe health inequalities in society, including refugees, asylum seekers, Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, people experiencing homelessness and other socially excluded groups. Researchers work closely with NHS organisations, local authorities and civil society partners to develop policy interventions, educational resources and healthcare improvements. During the 2024-2026 period, the programme produced evidence and briefing papers on reducing health inequalities, supported inclusion-health teaching initiatives and strengthened partnerships with organisations working across the East of England.
Health Determinants Research Collaboration Essex (2024-2028)
Since January 2024, ARU has been a partner in the £5 million Greater Essex Health Determinants Research Collaboration, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The partnership brings together Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Thurrock Council, the University of Essex and ARU to investigate the underlying causes of health inequality across Essex. Running until 2028, the project focuses on issues including poverty, food insecurity, substance misuse, educational disadvantage and wider social determinants of health. By building research capacity within local government and generating evidence for decision-makers, the collaboration is helping local authorities develop more effective responses to inequality and improve health outcomes across some of the county's most disadvantaged communities.
SHARED GREEN DEAL: Inclusive sustainability transitions (2022-2027)
Led by ARU's Global Sustainability Institute, SHARED GREEN DEAL is a €5 million European research project involving 22 organisations across Europe, running from 2022 to 2027. The project investigates how social science approaches and community participation can support fair and inclusive sustainability transitions. Through 24 social experiments across Europe, the project works with citizens, community groups, businesses and policymakers to explore how environmental policies can be implemented in ways that reduce social inequalities and increase participation among groups that are often excluded from decision-making processes. The findings are helping inform European policy and practice relating to inclusion, participation and just transitions. A specific workstream within the project explored how community projects to further Green Deal objectives also dealt with the challenges of justice, inclusion and people’s participation and presented policy recommendations for enabling a just and inclusive transition to sustainability in Europe.
Centre for Access to Justice and Inclusion
The Centre for Access to Justice and Inclusion (CAJI) at ARU undertakes research designed to improve access to justice, strengthen human rights protections and reduce exclusion. It brings together expertise in environmental justice, digital justice, crime and criminal justice, human rights, migration and social exclusion. Researchers work closely with communities and policymakers to co-produce evidence with real-world application. Current projects examine issues including migration, vulnerable populations, access to justice in digital environments and exclusion experienced by marginalised communities.
Research improving participation of refugees and vulnerable populations in health research (2024-2026)
In 2025, researchers at ARU led research exploring the complex nature of barriers to including refugees and asylum seekers in health research. The project emerged from previous research which found that ethics and governance procedures could unintentionally create barriers to participation for vulnerable populations. Working with healthcare and research partners as well as people with relevant lived experience, researchers developed practical guidance to support more inclusive research practice, helping ensure that groups experiencing disadvantage are not excluded from future health research and policy development. The recommendations have implications for researchers, health practitioners and ethics committees across the UK.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.