Working with Health Ambassadors

What We Offer

Our Health Ambassadors are trusted community members who have received training to work alongside researchers across a wide range of health topics. They play an active role in shaping research to be meaningful, inclusive, and grounded in real community experience.

What our Health Ambassadors do‍ ‍

  • Support research recruitment by connecting researchers with local communities

  • Help identify and recruit PPIE members

  • Run and facilitate focus groups

  • Recruit participants for interviews

  • Review research applications and provide constructive feedback. Comment on study materials, including participant information sheets and consent forms

  • Advise on inclusive research design ensuring studies reflect the needs and realities of diverse communities

  • Review and improve recruitment materials, such as flyers and outreach messages.

  • Our ambassadors bring lived experience, cultural insight, and community trust—helping you design research that is accessible, relevant, and impactful.

Get In Touch

If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We will review your message and get back to you as soon as possible

Click here to submit the health ambassador Request form

If you have questions about collaborating with Health Ambassadors or would like to discuss pricing, please contact us at research@caafihealth.com. Please note that our pricing has recently been updated. Feel free to contact us for more information.

If you plan to include Health Ambassadors in a funding application, we recommend speaking with us before submission so we can provide a full costing and help ensure an adequate budget is allocated.

Co-facilitating a workshop or focus group with Health Ambassadors

Co‑Facilitation Checklist for Researchers

Before the Session

  • Identify appropriate Health Ambassador(s)

  • Arrange a preparation meeting

  • Share the session plan or discussion guide and ask for input

  • Clarify roles and responsibilities

  • Discuss cultural considerations or sensitive topics

  • Confirm practical arrangements (venue, timing, materials) with input from the Health Ambassador to ensure it is appropriate for the participants.

  • Ensure consent procedures and ethics requirements are clear

  • Agree who will prepare any flyers or recruitment materials. If the researcher prepares them, they should seek feedback from the Health Ambassador to ensure the wording and design are appropriate for the community before being shared.

  • Agree on participant reimbursement in advance. Confirm the type and value of vouchers, when they will be given (ideally at the end of the session on the day), and whether additional support, such as travel or childcare costs, will be covered.

During the Session

  • Introduce the Health Ambassador as a co‑facilitator (ensure no power imbalance)

  • Encourage shared facilitation

  • Allow space for the Health Ambassador to guide the discussion

  • Use clear and accessible language

  • Be responsive to cues about group dynamics

  • Ensure all participants have the opportunity to contribute

After the Session

  • Thank the Health Ambassador and participants

  • Hold a short debrief with the Health Ambassador

  • Capture additional insights from the Health Ambassador

  • Reflect on what worked well and what could improve

  • Follow up on any issues raised during the session

  • Check all reimbursement and travel expenses received by participants

  • Disseminate next steps to the participants if promised

If you decide to work with our health ambassadors for your project and they will assist in one of your workshops or focus groups, there are several key points to consider. We have compiled some information to help researchers and health ambassadors work together effectively. CaafiHealth is a member of the BNSSG Diverse Research Engagement Network and recommends that researchers read the Terms of Engagement: https://www.bristolhealthpartners.org.uk/public-involvement/diverse-research-engagement-network/community-ready-researchers-terms-of-engagement/

Co‑Facilitation with Health Ambassadors

A quick guide for running inclusive community sessions

Why Co-Facilitate with Health Ambassadors?

  • Build trust with community members

  • Improve cultural sensitivity and relevance

  • Support communication in preferred community languages

  • Encourage more open and honest discussion

  • Provide insight into community perspectives and barriers to participation

Roles in a Co-Facilitated Session

Researcher

  • Lead on designing the research activity, discussion guide and posters

  • Explain the purpose of the research

  • Manage informed consent procedures ( please make sure to share the consent form with the participants in advance)

  • Ensure ethical & governance requirements are met

  • Document key findings and insights

  • Lead on dissemination of outputs

Health Ambassadors

  • Co-produce/feedback on materials for the session

  • Welcome participants and help create a relaxed environment

  • Support culturally appropriate communication

  • Encourage participation from quieter members of the group

  • Help clarify questions or translate where appropriate

  • Share community perspectives that may help guide discussion

“Health Ambassador helped to ensure the research was appropriately framed, and helped me to consider different elements might be important to the participants. Additionally was essential to the calm running of the focus groups, and facilitation of participants’ involvement. “

- Researcher, UWE Bristol