Community Outreach in Action!
A key area of our work moving forward is our Community Outreach. We have been running a successful pilot project in West Yorkshire and the impact and engagement through this project has been fantastic.
We have been delivering ‘Genes, Family History and Your Health’ creative workshops within diverse and often underserved communities in West Yorkshire.
These culturally sensitive, creative sessions use arts and crafts to explore genetics, family health patterns, and stigma around disability and family health. They provide an accessible way to raise awareness, reduce shame, and empower communities. We also signpost people for additional support and connect them to healthcare professionals, patient organisations, support, and community groups where possible.
There is strong evidence that participation in arts can contribute to community togetherness and reduce isolation.
Art is an ideal communication tool to bridge the gap between cultures and offers a universal language. Participants can also take their creations home to share with their family, thereby extending the learning and conversations at home and further afield.
Adapting to different needs
There is no “one size fits all” approach. Each community has different cultural, religious, language and social contexts — and we personalise our support and sessions to provide culturally appropriate support for each community.
That includes:
- Working with community leaders and interpreters
- Using visual and creative communication (like arts and crafts) to explain complex ideas.
- Offering materials in multiple languages and formats.
- Being flexible with timing, venues and childcare needs.
- Creating women-only or culturally appropriate spaces where needed.
- Building slow, steady relationships over time.
- Focusing on listening, not just “educating”.
We always involve and engage people from the community in planning and delivery — this ensures cultural sensitivity and builds trust.
In the future, we are hoping to expand this project to reach more diverse, deprived areas and train and mentor other community organisations to run these sessions, ensuring wider impact.
Found out more about this work HERE
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