How can we make health and care research more inclusive, culturally appropriate and accessible to the communities it aims to serve?
As part of Research for All Week 2026, Noclor is inviting colleagues to join a special journal club exploring the role of Community Research Link Workers in making research more inclusive.
The session will focus on the paper Development of a community research link worker role to enable culturally tailored research and empower marginalised communities to participate: the IBISES model. The paper explores how Community Research Link Workers can help researchers build meaningful relationships with communities that are often underrepresented in research and support their involvement in shaping and delivering research.
At the heart of the paper is the IBISES model, developed through four research projects involving underserved communities in South Yorkshire. Community Research Link Workers brought knowledge of their communities and research skills to the projects, helping researchers understand local perspectives, build trust and engage people who may otherwise be less likely to participate.
Join the discussion
This one-hour taster journal club will provide an opportunity to develop critical appraisal skills while discussing some important questions raised by the paper:
- How effective is the Community Research Link Worker approach?
- What makes research genuinely inclusive and culturally appropriate?
- How can researchers build meaningful relationships with communities?
- Could approaches such as IBISES help research better reflect the diverse populations served by the NHS?
You don't need to be an experienced researcher or critical appraisal expert to take part; the session is an opportunity to learn, share perspectives and connect with colleagues.
Wednesday 16 September 2026
2pm–3pm
Online via Microsoft Teams: Join the journal club
We are delighted that Dr Kate Fryer, one of the paper's authors, will be joining the journal club to take part in the discussion. Kate is a Research Fellow in the Primary Care Research Group at the University of Sheffield and leads the Deep End Research Alliance.
Part of Research for All Week
The session is part of Research for All Week, taking place from 14–18 September and celebrating the vital role of research, innovation and collaboration in community health and care.
Find out more about Research for All Week and view the full programme
The Noclor Journal Club, hosted by Whittington Health Library, also runs regular sessions exploring research papers and developing critical appraisal skills. Upcoming sessions include a discussion of a qualitative study exploring teachers' perspectives on promoting mental health in Northwest London primary schools.
Find out more about other Noclor Journal Clubs