An exciting new three year (2010-2013) research project funded by

Big Lottery Fund has begun in the Midlands. Community Research

for Better Health in the Midlands (CRBH) will bring out community

expertise about ways to fight some of the pervasive health

problems in our society. Six community researchers will work with

200 adults facing health deprivation in the West Midlands. Together

they will actively look at why so many people are sedentary, and

find ways that community health education can motivate people to

get active and lead healthier lifestyles.

The educational charity WEA West Midlands will facilitate the

project supported by the University of Leicester’s Institute for

Lifelong Learning. They will use the knowledge and understanding

gained from the research to feed in to policy and

practice networks, as well as

delivering health education

programmes designed

around community

intelligence

and need.

Project Aims:

Train six Community Researchers from health deprived areas in research skills

Identify barriers to adopting healthy living through action research

Design and deliver tailor-made physical activity programmes in response to local need

Make key decision makers within public health and social care services more aware of ways to engage different communities in relevant healthy lifestyle initiatives

Share and disseminate findings and best practice

Contact the CRBH Project Team

Iram Naz: CRBH Project Manager inaz@wea.org.uk

Val Woodward: CRBH Project Researcher vwoodward@wea.org.uk

Telephone: 0121 237 8120 Fax: 0121 237 8121

Web: http://www.westmidlands.wea.org.uk/crbh-health-project