Making health research work for everyone
What if we could detect conditions like dementia, cancer or heart disease earlier – or prevent them altogether?
Today, millions of people across the UK are taking part in Our Future Health, helping researchers answer some of the biggest questions about health and disease. Together, we’re building the world’s largest health research programme of its kind.
We’re delighted to be exhibiting at this year’s Voluntary Health Scotland Annual Conference. The theme of Power, Partnership, Perseverance reflects our commitment to helping people make informed choices about health research, working with trusted organisations to reach under-represented groups, and building trust and meaningful relationships with communities over time.
Bringing our clinics to Scottish communities
So far, more than 135,000 people in Scotland are taking part in Our Future Health. But size alone isn’t enough. To make discoveries that benefit everyone, researchers need data that represents people from different backgrounds.
In the past, some groups have been under-represented in health research. This includes people who don’t live close to major cities, people with lower incomes, and minority ethnic groups.
To make it easier for people to join Our Future Health, we’re bringing our clinics directly to towns, cities and rural communities across Scotland. By offering appointments in more locations, we hope to make taking part more accessible, particularly for people who might otherwise need to travel long distances to attend an appointment.
At their appointment, participants provide a small sample of blood and have some physical measurements taken, including their blood pressure. You can find out more about what taking part involves at ourfuturehealth.org.uk
Working together to reach more people
As well as bringing clinics closer to communities, we need to make sure people know about our programme and understand how they can take part.
We work with a range of community groups and organisations to raise awareness of Our Future Health through social media, local events and community networks. By sharing information through trusted networks, we can help more people understand why health research matters and make informed decisions about taking part.
These organisations also bring valuable knowledge of the communities they support. By listening to their experiences and understanding the barriers people face, we can find better ways to reach and engage with different groups.
We’re looking forward to connecting with organisations from across Scotland at the Voluntary Health Scotland Annual Conference. We want to learn from your experiences, build new relationships and explore how we can work together to help more people in Scotland take part in health research. Together, we can help everyone live longer, healthier lives.
