Xiaohongshu
Co-create an evidence-based campaign to promote awareness of Cardiovascular disease in minority groups
The Research Volunteering programme through the Community Research Initiative gives YOU the power to take your research and classroom skills out into the community to create a positive social impact. Through our bite size projects, you’ll work with a group of interdisciplinary peers and organisational allies to tackle a project that will draw on your research skills. These projects are flexible and designed with students in mind to give you amazing experience to fuel your CV, explore new skills, and meet other likeminded students. Each opportunity is unique, make sure to check out our page for more information.
All about the organisation
At Black Woman Kindness CIC, we work in creative health, wellbeing and storytelling, as the means to building self-confidence and resilience among Black women to build a stronger community. We are challenging the notice of the Strong Black Woman showing no weakness. We do this through our paid-for practical workshops, events, and discussion groups delivered through Black Woman Kindness Initiative. Our CIC is a company limited by guarantee, a model widely used by charities, community projects, clubs, societies, and other similar bodies. We retain profit within the company (as opposed to distributing them to company members) and use profits for course materials, venue hire, contributors, and refreshments. We aim to create an environment where all women participants feel valued and carefully consider where we use profits.
A bit about the project
We have recently been approached to help develop a campaign highlighting cardiovascular disease as a major health concern in marginalised communities—focusing on African and Caribbean women aged around 35 and over. This project will explore how culture, identity, community experience and structural inequalities shape cardiovascular‑health behaviours and outcomes.
You’ll work as part of an interdisciplinary student team to collect data, evaluate community insights, and co‑create recommendations that can strengthen the campaign. This is a chance to blend public‑health knowledge with social‑science perspectives, lived‑experience research and culturally responsive practice.
- What can I expect from this opportunity?
- Experience contributing to a real public‑health campaign with potential policy impact.
- Hands‑on practice in data collection, evaluation and community‑centred research.
- Opportunities to explore how culture and identity influence health behaviours in African and Caribbean communities.
- A co‑creative environment where students from health, social sciences and other disciplines collaborate.
- Skill‑building in communication, qualitative interviewing and culturally sensitive research.
- Regular guidance from BWKI leaders and public‑health partners.
- A flexible, student‑friendly project structure designed to fit around your studies
- How will my work on this project impact the community?
- Help shape a public‑health campaign that reflects real experiences within African and Caribbean communities.
- Support more culturally grounded approaches to cardiovascular‑health education and prevention.
- Provide evidence that can influence local policy and improve health‑equity outcomes.
- Strengthen BWKI’s ability to advocate for better early‑intervention and community‑led health initiatives.
- Contribute to long‑term efforts to reduce cardiovascular disease disparities in marginalised communities.
What key tasks will the volunteer team be responsible for?
- Project Kick Off & Intro to the Research Volunteering Programme
Your kick off meeitng
You'll meet with the BWKI programme lead Cherril and the rest of your research team in a project kick off meeting. You will work together to set up a schedule for the project, decide on ways of working, and figure out a work plan so that your project can be a success. This meeting should be organised by the charity's staff lead for the project and should provide you with proper induction and training for your role.
Induction to the Research Volunteering Programme
Keep an eye out in your inbox, the Community Research Initiative team will be sending you your induction information so you feel supported and engaged in the Research Volunteering programme. Here's what's included:
- Get 1:1 support from our specialized research and community engagement team Got questions about methods, research approaches, or data? Want to chat through ideas, career prospects, or just get some support? Book online and meet us on teams or in person
- Join our events, from community research methods tasters to community fieldtrips, you can dive deeper into the world of community research
- Flex your professional development through our annual showcase: present a poster, share your story, get that great experience for the ol' CV
- Understanding the Landscape
This is where your UCL library access comes in handy! You’ll begin by exploring existing research on cardiovascular disease in African and Caribbean communities, mapping cultural, social and structural factors that influence health behaviours. You can coallate this into a shared, easy read document to be shared with the BWKI programme lead. This phase builds a shared foundation before moving into data collection
- Community‑Centred Data Collection
You’ll help design and deliver culturally sensitive community driven data‑collection activities—such as surveys, interviews or community conversations. This phase focuses on gathering authentic insights that reflect lived experience and community priorities.
- Analysis & Insight Development
You’ll analyse qualitative and quantitative data to identify patterns, barriers and opportunities for intervention. This includes exploring how identity, trust, stigma and access to healthcare shape cardiovascular‑health outcomes.
- Campaign Development
Working collaboratively with BWKI and fellow students, you’ll help translate findings into campaign ideas, messages and recommendations. This phase blends creativity with evidence to ensure the campaign is engaging, culturally resonant and impactful. You’ll contribute to a clear, accessible report summarising insights and recommendations for Public Health teams. This final phase supports BWKI’s efforts to influence policy, strengthen funding bids and advocate for long‑term change.
- Share back with the Community Research Initiative Team
You've done it! You will have completed an amazing socially impactful research project through the Research Volunteering Programme at your Students' Union. Our team will reach out to ask you for a bit of feedback, some stories about your experience, and invite you to take part in our annual showcase where you can share the findings and insights from your project.
What skills will I practice and develop during this experience?
- Community‑centred research through learning how to gather insights respectfully and meaningfully from real people.
- Qualitative interviewing and building confidence in asking thoughtful questions and capturing lived experience.
- Survey design by creating accessible, culturally sensitive tools for collecting data
- Public‑health communication and shaping messages that resonate with communities and influence policy.
- Cultural competence through understanding how identity, culture and community shape health behaviours.
- Co‑creation and collaboration by working alongside peers, community partners and BWKI to design solutions together.
- Project organisation, managing sources, deadlines, and feedback loops.