Strengthening our Cultural Competency skills to Support Inclusive Research

On 14th May, the AGE Research Group were pleased to welcome Stella Chu, Training and Development Officer from Connected Voice: Health and Race Equality Forum, to deliver an engaging Cultural Competency training session.

The interactive session combined practical activities and group discussion, giving participants the opportunity to explore key topics such as what we mean by “culture”, the diverse and intersecting characteristics of local communities, and how barriers to accessing services can arise. The training also highlighted examples of good practice and helped build confidence in working with and engaging different communities.

‍This session forms part of the AGE Research Group’s ongoing commitment to strengthening cultural competency and supporting more inclusive research practices, in line with NIHR priorities on Research Inclusion.

Reflecting on the session, Helen Atkinson, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Manager in the AGE Research Group said:

“I’d like to thank Stella for delivering an engaging and interactive session. The training created a safe space to challenge assumptions and helped build the skills and confidence needed to communicate and engage effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.”

The AGE Research Group is committed to building on this learning, with further opportunities planned to allow us to continue developing our cultural competency and embedding inclusive practices across our research activities.

‍ ‍