January – April 2026
Overview
Thirteen Research Champions (RCs) from The Health Gospel CIC (THG) took part in the Research Engagement Network / Academy of Primary Care (REN/APC) 2025–26 Programme, hosted by the Academy of Primary Care (APC), Hull York Medical School, University of Hull. The programme ran from January to April 2026 and focused on strengthening understanding of Primary Care research and improving the meaningful involvement of underserved communities in research design, delivery, and participation.
A Collaborative Programme
The REN/APC programme was codesigned and delivered by the APC in conjunction with two other VCSE partners from the Humber and North Yorkshire REN network:
- The Health Gospel CIC (THG)
- Flash Company Arts
Together, we explored what genuinely inclusive research engagement looks like across diverse communities and cultural contexts.
THG’s Contribution
THG worked with African diaspora and migrant communities across North and Northeast Lincolnshire through two connected strands:
1. African ArtBased Research
We used African ArtBased Research, a culturally rooted creative methodology that treats artistic traditions as tools for enquiry. This approach opened conversations that conventional research methods often cannot reach, enabling deeper trust, expression, and participation.
2. ChampionLed Learning
As the Research Champions grew in confidence, they began shaping the programme themselves. They requested a mythbusting session to address common misconceptions about research – a session codelivered with the Academy of Primary Care at Hull York Medical School. This shift from participants to drivers of their own learning stands out as one of the programme’s most significant achievements.
Programme Outcomes
One of the key outputs was the codesign of the REN Voices website, a platform created to showcase community perspectives and strengthen representation in health research.
👉 Visit: REN Voices | health research
