Empowering Black and Asian Women in Menopause Research
Our project aimed to build a bridge to South Asian women who experience health inequalities in the West Midlands to health research at the University of Warwick and to using art as our mode of facilitation. This aligns with Warwick’s strategic priorities around inclusive research and community engagement and directly supports the Women’s Health Mission and the spotlight on Women’s Health.
We delivered a culturally rooted, interdisciplinary arts and health event during South Asian Heritage Month (July) in the West Midlands. We recruited 12 South Asian women who had never been involved with Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) or university research. The event was delivered in partnership with Cysters—a grassroots health organisation with long-standing trust and reach within the South Asian community—and an experienced South Asian artist.
We explored women’s lived experiences and understanding of research involvement. By embedding research literacy into a familiar cultural context, this project aimed to demystify the university and research institutions for underserved communities. We generated a two-way dialogue and offered community members the opportunity to express what meaningful involvement looks like to them.
Cysters, working in partnership with Dr Claire Mann, have collated the findings which will contribute to the development of a co-production toolkit. The project served as a recruitment ground for a longer-term, community embedded PPIE panel of South Asian women. We explored with participants what a sustainable and meaningful panel could look like. As a result of this work we have generated a database and mailing list and we will produce a digital monthly research engagement newsletter including information about ongoing studies.
This project has delivered the primary outcome as it has created a new pathway for collaborative research between the university and marginalised South Asian communities across the West Midlands, including Coventry and Warwickshire. We have established a community-based panel of South Asian women who understand and are interested in supporting future research, and who can advise on future projects and funding applications. We are in the process of creating a co-production toolkit for researchers working with groups perceived as hard to reach. The workshop generated significant material to contribute to the toolkit which will be co-produce during the current academic year. We have developed enhanced trust and visibility between the university and historically marginalised communities, laying the groundwork for deeper ethical engagement. Participants gained knowledge about the research ecosystem, the role of PPIE, and how to engage with academic institutions.
We intend to develop a longer-term project together as a direct result of this work. Although we have some material for a toolkit we intend to develop this in genuine co-production throughout the academic year in partnership with our newly recruited PPIE group. We are considering a co-production conference as a launch event. We are also researching further arts and health funding to continue this community led co-production approach to knowledge generation.
Cysters developed the event and attended with 2 members of staff and a South Asian artist. On behalf of the University of Warwick, Dr Claire Mann a senior health researcher, attended and presented. We recruited 20 women who signed up to attend the event and 13 attended in person on the date.
