Using creative methods to understand Somali women' s health experiences and co-create empowered communities.

PI Title: Dr Lucy Johnson & Francesca Godfrey

Lead member: Queen Mary University of London 

This activity will be undertaken in partnership between the Health Equity Evidence Centre (HEEC) based at Queen Mary University London (QMUL) and Coffee Afrik CIC. We will focus on Somali women. Coffee Afrik CIC run a successful women’s hub in Tower Hamlets, East London. The precise topic and methods used will be determined by the women, but our aim is to bring together a group of Somali women and a group of primary care practitioners using creative participatory methods. By using these methods, we hope to generate mutual understanding, trust and care.

We aim to use creative methods to create a dialogue between Somali women and primary care practitioners about Somali women's health, in the context of the NHS 10 year plan. By bringing a group of primary care practitioners into a space run by and for this group of women, we hope to counteract some of the pre-existing power relations that may exist when marginalised people enter clinical spaces.

We envisage 3 events taking place across Spring/Summer 2026. We will run all activities out of the Tower Hamlets women's hub. The three activities will be as follows:

1) A co-design planning meeting: We will recruit up to 5 women who attend the hub regularly, and are interested in shaping the course of the project. We will hold a co-design planning meeting with them to learn about their priorities, decide on a specific topic and discuss the arts based methodology to be used.

2) An initial engagement workshop: Time and space is crucial in order to build rapport, grow trust and avoid extractive engagement practice. We will hold an initial workshop at the hub to allow participants to get to know each other. We will use tools to create healthy conversations and leave space for generative conflict. We will ensure that the engagement workshop will allow space for participants to feel as comfortable as possible with each other.

3) Creative problem solving workshop: This workshop will focused on a topic decided by the women. The exact topic and methods will be shaped around the needs of the community. Broadly speaking, we anticipate that the topic will be around understanding the new NHS long term plan. Coffee Afrik CIC have identified existing concerns in the community about AI and digital exclusion, which may potentially be addressed here. Through undertaking this problem solving workshop using creative methods, we aim to generate new forms of understanding between ‘patients’ and ‘practitioners’, and break down some of the barriers that may prevent these two groups productively interacting with each other.

We will use creative methods to facilitate a dialogue between the women and the primary care practitioners. Creative methods can allow individuals to express themselves freely, and to become active participants in the generation of data. These methods could include (among others): an art workshop, dance or drama activities, collective experience mapping exercises or hands on gardening activities.

Approx. 10 women and 5-10 health professionals will attend the two workshops.

Amount awarded: £2,000