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Two members of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC) team are now officially ‘Connected Voice Haref Allies’ – working to promote health equality across our region.

Connected Voice Haref Allies work together to tackle health inequalities for ethnically minoritised communities across Newcastle and Gateshead.

Dr Felicity Shenton, Public Involvement and Community Engagement Manager and Dr Angela Wearn, Public Involvement and Community Engagement Research Fellow, have been registered as Haref Allies on behalf of the ARC North East and North Cumbria.

As part of their commitment, Felicity and Angela will work to improve the way the ARC North East and North Cumbria engages with and works to represent ethnically minoritised communities. They will also working directly with our local communities through the Haref Network, listening and responding to the health issues raised, and working together to create solutions. 

Why are Haref Allies needed?

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted huge disparities in health across our diverse communities. Unfortunately, health inequalities existed long before COVID-19. Some ethnically minoritised communities experience significantly higher levels of ill health and premature death than the rest of the population and some communities are more likely to be in poverty, and poverty is a significant factor in poorer health outcomes. In our region, we also have services that are not easy to access or designed to accommodate the needs and cultural differences within diverse communities.

Connected Voice Haref has been campaigning for health equality for almost 20 years and you can read more about their work and current health issues on their website. 

Dr Felicity Shenton said: “Angela and I are very proud to join the Connected Voice Haref Allies, championing health equality and helping to improve the ways in which we work with and on behalf of, ethnically minoritised communities.”