BNU's Aylesbury Campus opens its doors to 200 local people in community health and social care event
On Saturday 22 October, BNU’s Institute for Health and Social Care (IHSC) facilitated a community engagement event which saw over 200 visitors at the University’s Aylesbury Campus.
In a partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and local community groups, the event was the first of its kind, aiming to engage ethnic minority communities in the local area. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to share their lived experience and discuss the challenges they may have faced in accessing health information and services.
Speakers from various organisations and community groups attended, including Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, The Terrence Higgins Trust, Healthwatch Bucks, NHS Talking Therapies and Thames Valley Police, offering a variety of interactive activities and discussions on health and wellbeing.
The event enabled appropriate discussion of ‘difficult’ topics such as prostate care, menopause, diabetes, heart conditions, mental health and general wellbeing and their implications in families and communities.
Professor Karen Buckwell-Nutt, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor at BNU, and Director of the Institute for Health and Social Care, said: “The University is proud to be able to host and assists such a fantastic event. We’re committed to supporting our communities and fulfilling our civic responsibilities. Health and Social Care is important to all and the more we can raise awareness of provision in the local area, the better the possible outcomes for individuals.”
Buckinghamshire Council and community partners are looking at joining up health initiatives and mirroring the success of this event with counterparts in High Wycombe.
