ARU has launched a new research partnership with African Families in the UK (AFiUK) to explore how community-led approaches can help address social inequalities and strengthen engagement with ethnically minoritised communities.
The project, led by Dr Yemisi Sloane, brings together academic expertise and community insight to better understand how trusted, community-based approaches can improve engagement with health and social welfare services, and strengthen relationships between communities and public institutions.
At the heart of the research is AFiUK’s Community Ambassador Model. This approach works through trained community members who act as trusted connectors, supporting people from ethnically minoritised communities to access mainstream services and navigate complex systems.
Titled 'Understanding the Community Ambassador Model: A Qualitative Study of Community Engagement and Social Inequalities in Ethnically Minoritised Communities in the UK', the project will explore how the model operates in practice. It will capture the experiences and perspectives of community ambassadors, as well as those involved in delivering and supporting the programme, to better understand its impact and potential.
The research will also identify lessons that can inform future policy and practice, contributing to more inclusive and effective approaches to service delivery.
"Community organisations bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise that is often underrepresented in traditional research and service design. This partnership allows us to learn from a model developed within communities themselves, and to better understand how trust and lived experience can help reduce inequalities and improve engagement with services."
Dr Yemisi Sloane"Community ambassadors play a vital role in bridging gaps between services and the communities they serve. This partnership with Anglia Ruskin University will help us build a stronger evidence base for the Community Ambassador Model, supporting its development and extending its impact."
Dr (HC) Rachel Walton, Chief Executive Officer of AFiUKThis collaboration reflects ARU’s commitment to research that is grounded in partnership and delivers real-world impact. By working closely with community organisations, the project aims to generate practical insights that can support more inclusive systems and help address the inequalities experienced by ethnically minoritised communities across the UK.