We have recently shared learning and insights from the Abundance Project’s collaborative research activities at three prestigious health and care conferences in the UK.
Francesca Taylor (Research Associate, Kingston University) gave an oral presentation on behalf of the Abundance Project team at the British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Conference 2025 in Cardiff, entitled ‘How can cultural and green community assets support mental health and wellbeing in Black, ethnic minority, and refugee communities? A qualitative study of lived experience stories.’ The presentation focused on research themes identified from the lived experience storytelling workshops, and stories collected by community voice champions from community members. These themes were considered within a theoretical framework emphasising cultural processes and cultural pathways to inequalities, and included:
- Struggles of being a migrant and impact on mental health
- Restricted community knowledge and support around mental health
- Difficulties in accessing nature and culture
- Community connections, belonging and resilience
The presentation aligned closely with the Conference theme ‘Together Towards Health and Wellbeing: Support for All’ with a scientific focus on considering the range of individuals who need support with their health and wellbeing. Our work was well received and raised considerable interest and enquiries from delegates about the Abundance Project. In particular, the methodology for developing and evaluating community-led ways to support mental health and wellbeing for marginalised communities through improving access to cultural and green community assets was commended, with colleagues interested in the approach.
At the National Institute of Health Applied Research Collaboration Health (NIHR ARC) Knowledge Exchange event 2025 | ARC South London Francesca Taylor together with Anna Busuttil (Abundance Project Community Engagement Officer, University of the Arts London) presented a poster on behalf of the Abundance Project team. The Knowledge Exchange Event focused on reducing health inequalities through new research and practice partnerships capable of engaging knowledge from lived experience, and tackling the broader social, structural and institutional systems which can shape and perpetuate health inequalities. Our poster complemented these intentions, highlighting the Abundance Project’s objectives to produce a community-led model that engages cultural and green community assets in health systems, and providing approaches for Black, ethnic minority and refugee communities to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
The event attracted attendees from local London patient and public involvement groups, health and social care organisations, voluntary and community sector organisations, and universities. Several attendees offered their contact details to the Abundance team for potential future involvement and collaborations.
An oral poster presentation on behalf of the Abundance Project was also given at the South West London Health Research Summit 2025 by Francesca Taylor. This highlighted the overall aims of the Project and key findings from Work package 1 and Work package 2. The Summit, run by the South West London Integrated Care Board and Business, Innovation and Growth (BIG) South London, showcased health research being undertaken across the NHS, local councils, voluntary and community groups, and universities in six South West London boroughs: Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth, Richmond and Kingston. Integral to the event was the creation of a research network in South London that provides inclusivity and diversity.
These health and care conference presentations have considerably raised the profile of the Abundance Project among health and care practitioners and organisations, patient and public communities, and researchers in South West London and nationally, and helped link the Project to active local research networks.