Community dinner shines light on “Be Part of Research” – and the many ways to get involved
- patientsinresearch
- Feb 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 23
A Ramadan Iftar dinner at Trinity Church in Sutton brought together local residents, community organisations and health research staff for an evening of food and conversation – and a clear message emerged: many people still don’t realise there are several ways to support health and care research, even if they are not ready to take part in a clinical trial.
The event, held at Trinity Church, Cheam Road, was organised in collaboration with Dialogue Society, Trinity Church and Amnesty International Sutton and was hosted by Nihal Tekin, a member of our Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP) Steering Group. Our Turkish community connector, Meryam, invited our Clinical Research Facility (CRF) to attend – helping to create a warm, trusted link between community conversations and research opportunities.
Representatives from the CRF joined the evening to share what a clinical research facility does and why involvement through NIHR Be Part of Research matters. But just as important as what was shared was what was heard.
"I thought it was only clinical trials." Across table conversations, a consistent theme emerged: research can feel distant, complicated, and at times intimidating. Many attendees said they had assumed participation meant one thing only — enrolling in a clinical trial, potentially receiving an investigational treatment, and committing to visits and procedures. The discussions at Trinity Church helped broaden that picture. CRF staff explained that involvement can begin in a much simpler way: a conversation. For people who are unsure, the first step doesn’t have to be signing up to anything. It can be asking questions, understanding what research is, and learning what opportunities exist locally or online.
A key point raised throughout the evening was trust — and the reality that trust is built step-by-step. Attendees were encouraged to take their time and start by reviewing information and study documents: reading participant information sheets, discussing what consent means, understanding how data is used, and exploring what participation would look like in practice. The message was clear: involvement should never feel rushed, pressured, or unclear – and people should only take part when they feel fully informed and comfortable.
The CRF also used the event to highlight NIHR Be Part of Research, the national service that helps members of the public find health and care research opportunities. The team emphasised that research is stronger when it reflects the communities it serves. Wider participation helps ensure studies are more relevant, inclusive, and better able to improve care for everyone.
While clinical trials are one important part of research, the evening underlined that they are not the only route. People can make a difference in a variety of ways, including opportunities that involve sharing views and experiences, completing questionnaires, or taking part in other low-burden studies. The focus, staff said, is on enabling people to explore options and choose what feels right for them.
Alongside research engagement, guests also heard about the community-building work of Dialogue Society, including its education project “Life of a Chickpea". The initiative uses a familiar food — the chickpea — as a creative starting point for children to explore big themes such as identity, belonging, culture, diversity and community, opening space for dialogue in an accessible and engaging way.
For organisers, it was a reminder that meaningful conversations don’t always need complicated beginnings — a principle that also applies to public engagement with research: start with what’s familiar, create safe spaces for questions, and build understanding over time.
The evening also marked the start of a new collaboration. Our CRF was introduced to Dialogue Society’s South London, Kent & Sussex Regional Coordinator to explore how we can work together to amplify the work of the NIHR, Be Part of Research, and our CRF — particularly into communities and schools.
By the end of the event, the most important takeaway was a shift in awareness: being “part of research” can start small — with a conversation, time to read and reflect, and support to understand what participation would mean personally — before any commitment is made. For many, that knowledge alone felt like a practical first step.
