Black Health Inequalities Summit 2025

On the 26 March, Geoffrey Ocen, our Chief Executive, alongside Sonja Camara of Sewn Together and Shae Eccleston from Edmonton Community Partnership, were invited to speak at the Black Health Inequalities Summit about our “Prostate Health We Care” campaign, funded by the NCL Research Engagement Network (REN). 

The campaign reframed the conversation around prostate health using culturally sensitive language, emphasising care pathways and ongoing support networks. It offered a range of online and in-person activities, including engagement with faith groups, community cafés, sports initiatives for young men, events for women, and sessions for senior citizens.  

A structured hybrid and outreach approach—grounded in culturally sensitive communication—was essential to building trust and delivering accurate, actionable health insights. Personal stories, community roadshows, and expert clinical guidance played a key role in improving awareness and engagement among different communities. 

The campaign reached over 1,400 people, 500 completing a quality-of-life survey and 67 expressing interest in participating in health research. By increasing awareness and access to early detection resources, the campaign’s community-led approach strengthened trust in healthcare pathways. This, in turn, empowered individuals and families with the knowledge they need to take charge of their prostate health.

The final report highlighted that men of African, Caribbean, and Latin descent face significant barriers to early PSA testing, prostate cancer screenings, and access to reliable prostate health information, helping to inform service delivery. 

The presentation also touched on the work we are doing through the “Haringey and Enfield Cross-Borough Alliance”, a collaboration among the Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector that drives forward partnership working that both tackles health inequalities and ensures that community-led initiatives are well-supported, sustainable, and impactful.