Migrant Help was approached in November 2023 to participate in a research project for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). UKHSA, previously known as Public Health England, is a government agency which prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards. They provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.  

We have been involved in this project for a number of months now. The key aims are to improve UKHSA's understanding of how best to engage with vulnerable populations through community-centred approaches and to create partnerships to design, deliver and evaluate health protection approaches.  

One aspect of this project involved the creation of what UKHSA has called a Health Equity Advisory Committee. It is formed of three charities/community organisations, each represented by one staff member and two people with lived experience respectively. Migrant Help was represented by our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer and two members of our National Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP).  

Here’s what the team have said about their experience: 

“I have received an email from MH regarding an advisory board with UKHSA. I wasn’t too sure what to expect, however I volunteered to take part in the project, and I didn’t regret it. UKHSA is keen to get Lived experience people from different background to work together and deliver key heath campaigns in the UK. We discuss how to make information more assessable on measles to ethnic minorities and people with lived experience. It was a really nice project to be part of, UKHSA is listening and willing to work with everyone to help and protect us”. National LEAP member 

“I learned that there is a lot of news out there that us not reaching the ears of a person, about sickness and epidemic and trying to build a platform to get it out there so a person can know where to go to get their shots or what is required at the foreseen moment. What was decided is that we needed to create a main panel as well as sub panels so we can work better and faster to get the news out there.  We co-designed an easy-to-read pamphlet with the measles updates but breaking it down and clearing up some of the wording that persons would not know or understand.  We also touched on terminology or words we use and describing a person. Being part of the board has been a mind opening experience for me, I have learned a lot from each and everyone how was on this panel, and hopefully to continue working with them to complete the goal and journey together”. National LEAP member  

“Over the last couple of months, I've had the privilege to work alongside two of our LEAP members, Justice and Elom, within this committee. We've had four meetings in total in which our LEAP members provided their opinion on how government agencies can best engage with populations which have historically been underserved. Though we are constantly learning, as both individuals and as an organisation, this project has demonstrated that Migrant Help (both staff and LEAP members) have much offer to in terms of best practice”. Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer