Time for change! Co-producing peer research with diverse communities

Join us for this webinar sharing early findings from NIHR ARC South London research on developing peer research, to increase the diversity of participation and involvement in research.

About the webinar

This webinar will focus on a project where university researchers and peer researchers interviewed voluntary organisation leads, health researchers and public members to gain a better understanding of:

• the key issues to do with equity and diversity in research

• the barriers and enablers in this process

• the actions needed by research networks to support co-production in research and the development of peer research methods.

This webinar will present some early findings from the research and share recommendations for developing peer research in south London and beyond. It will feature perspectives and insights from peer researchers involved in co-producing this work.

There will be a chance for attendees to ask questions and discuss the findings in an informal Q&A. The project is led by Dr Josephine Ocloo, senior lecturer at King's College London.

Speakers will include:

• Dr Josephine Ocloo
• Hannah Dasch, research assistant, King's College London
• Abigail Mensah, peer researcher
• Vita Moltedo, peer researcher
• Chris Pavlakis, peer researcher.

Who should attend?

• Anyone interested in improving mental health services and making research more inclusive
• Experts by experience and people working in mental health services research and quality improvement
• Clinicians, team managers and researchers
• Public health commissioners and policymakers working in local authorities, health and social care and third sector organisations

About peer research

Developing peer research can be a powerful way to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion within research projects. By involving individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, it ensures that a wider range of perspectives, voices, and insights are heard, leading to more representative and meaningful outcomes.

Peer researchers bring unique knowledge that traditional academic frameworks might overlook, helping to challenge biases and address systemic inequalities. Additionally, this collaborative approach empowers underrepresented communities making research more accessible.

Our collaborators

The peer research project is linked to a wider project focused on research cafes, which are informal spaces where diverse communities can talk about their experiences of health and care. This project was carried out with a wide range of collaborators.

Collaborators include the Southwest London Integrated Care Board. It includes Southwest London's academic institutions, acute and community NHS trusts, NIHR ARC South London, Clinical Research Network South London, Health Innovation Network as well as colleagues from the South London Partnership and local voluntary sector organisations through the South West London Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Alliance.

Find out more about the research

Read the paper

Using ‘research cafés’ as a proof-of-concept model for engaging minoritised communities in UK health research: a mixed-methods feasibility study in South West London