Allies Research Unit

Community Led Research

The Allies Research Unit conducts culturally sensitive, community-led research that amplifies the voices of African, Arab, and other marginalised groups, helping shape more inclusive services and policies.

Community-informed research shaped by lived experience
Practical insights that lead to meaningful change
Trusted partner for inclusive policy development

Get in touch to collaborate on ethical, impact-driven research.

Allies Network CIC is a community-led social enterprise, founded in 2008 and incorporated as a Community Interest Company in 2014. We work with marginalised African and Arab communities in Birmingham, delivering holistic, culturally sensitive health, education, and social inclusion services.

What the Allies Research Unit Does

The Allies Research Unit (ARU) delivers meaningful, community-led research that highlights the lived experiences, strengths, and challenges of African, Arab, and other marginalised ethnic minority communities. Our work is structured across four key areas:

1. Community-led Research & Engagement

We place lived experience at the centre of our research approach. Our activities include:

Co-designed focus groups and community consultations
Listening events and lived experience panels
Surveys and insight-gathering sessions

2. Strategic Policy Influence

We use evidence generated by communities to influence how services are shaped. This includes:

Feeding community perspectives into local and national policy development
Representing marginalised voices at strategic boards, networks, and policy forums

3. Research Capacity Building

We build skills and knowledge among community members and professionals. This includes:

Training and mentoring community researchers
Delivering inclusive and accessible research workshops
Promoting ethical and culturally sensitive data collection practices

4. Knowledge Exchange & Reporting

We make research useful and accessible to those who need it. Our knowledge-sharing work includes:

Producing research reports, policy briefings, and insight summaries
Hosting roundtables, discussions, and learning events
Disseminating findings to inform inclusive practice and policy

Current and Past Research Projects

Our research portfolio includes a range of high-impact studies:

BLACHIR – Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review
Community engagement partner gathering insight on health inequalities affecting African communities.
Somali Community Deep Engagement – Public Health Birmingham
Capturing the perspectives and experiences of Somali residents to inform local health policy.
FGM, Mental Health and Cultural Barriers Research
Exploring the mental health impacts of FGM and the cultural barriers faced by African and Arab women when accessing support.
Digital Exclusion in Ethnic Minority Communities
Investigating the digital skills gap and barriers to access among BAME households.

Why Our Research Matters

The Allies Research Unit ensures that:

The experiences of marginalised communities are heard, respected, and acted upon
Research leads to tangible improvements in services and outcomes
Community voices are placed at the heart of decision-making and policy design

Partner With Us

We actively collaborate with a range of organisations and institutions, including:

• Local authorities •
• NHS and public health bodies •
• Academic institutions •
•Charities and voluntary sector groups •
• Funders and policymakers •

If you are interested in working with us on inclusive, community-led research, please contact:
📧 alliesnetwork6@gmail.com
📞 0121 647 1960