Diabetes Research Champions run their first community event

Healthwatch Luton are working with NIHR Clinical Research Network East of England (CRN EoE), Diabetes UK, BLMK Integrated Care Board and Health Innovation East, as part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Research Engagement Network (REN) programme, to understand the barriers that stop people in less represented communities taking part in health and care research.

Diabetes is particularly prevalent in Luton, which is likely driven by a higher South Asian population who are at increased risk of this condition.
As part of this programme, six Luton residents have been trained to become Diabetes and Research Champions. They have received training from the CRN and Diabetes UK as well as participated in an Action Planning Workshop run by Healthwatch Luton on the 30th November, discussing ways to help promote diabetes research to the wider community and how to carry out engagement work to understand the barriers that stop people in their community taking part in research. They will be running Diabetes Research Roadshows, events to understand their community’s views towards health and social care research and to support people to participate in diabetes research. 

The first Diabetes Research Roadshow took place on the 6th February. Champions Lata and Kishore oversaw the event at the Shree Sanatan Seva Samaj Temple, where the Hindu community was informed about diabetes and the importance of taking part in research. The community's views were also gathered on what they thought about research and what they felt could encourage them to participate in Diabetes research.
Healthwatch Luton are excited for what's to come and to continue to work to improve the experience of people with diabetes in managing their condition and to make research become more inclusive of less represented communities.

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