BU Research Blog

14 March 2025

Congratulations to Dr. Tsofliou

open access, PG research, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Earlier this month the scientific journal Psychology & Health published the paper ‘Effectiveness of client-centred counselling on weight management among Black African women with overweight and obesity in high-income countries: a systematic review’ [1]. This paper is based on the work of Itse Olaoye, a PhD student at St Mary’s University, London. Bournemouth University’s Dr Fotini Tsofliou is part of the student’s interdisciplinary supervisory team together with academics from the Faculty of Sport, Allied Health and Performance Science at St Mary’s University, London.

The message in the paper is that client-centred counselling appears promising for weight management in Black African women with overweight or obesity. Long-term follow-up studies are needed to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these interventions in this population over time.

Congratulations!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

Reference:

Olaoye, I., Myrissa, K., Kelaiditi, E., Tsofliou, F., & Brown, N. (2025). Effectiveness of client-centred counselling on weight management among Black African women with overweight and obesity in high-income countries: a systematic review. Psychology & Health, 1–32. [Published online: 11 Mar 2025] https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2025.2475161

22 July 2021

New joint publication with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

NHS, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

This morning International Journal of Mental Health Nursing informed us that our article ‘Cultural issues on accessing mental health services in Nepali and Iranian migrants communities in the UK‘ has been published today. This paper is written by an interdisciplinary team including Hannah Blunt who works at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, Dr. Bibha Simkhada who is Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Huddersfield and Dr. Mariam Vahdaninia who works in the Peninsula Medical School at the University of Plymouth. Both Mariam and Bibha worked with me at Bournemouth University at the time of the study.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH (Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health)

19 October 2015

Black History Month Soiree highlights practice and research for social change

Public engagement dgabriel

On October 14, local organisations, residents, staff and students from BU and other universities gathered at the Executive Business Centre for the Black History Month Soiree on Racial and Ethnic Diversity and Equality in Sport and Classical Music. The event was co-hosted by BU Equality and Diversity and Black British Academics, an independent organisation working to enhance race equality in the higher education sector.

Its founder and Chief Executive, Dr Deborah Gabriel, is a lecturer in the faculty of Media and Communication and she designed the programme to highlight the contribution Black academics make to the global knowledge economy, to showcase the fusion of practice and research for social change and to promote collaboration among staff, students and local organisations.

Dr Gabriel said: “My aim was to unite staff and students with local organisations to build engagement, promote co-creation in research and practice and collaboration on equality initiatives. I also think it’s important to acknowledge how Black academics are pushing the boundaries of knowledge while helping to build a fairer and more just society.”

Explaining why she chose sport and classical music as the theme for the event, Dr Gabriel said: “Football is the number one sport in Britain and issues around race and racism have been long-standing. Given that Bournemouth AFC have recently joined the Premier League, I think the focus is timely.”

Vincent Edwards from Bournemouth’s Kick-It-Out campaign spoke movingly about his 10-year campaign against racism in football and was joined by two teenage volunteers, who deliver anti-racism events in Bournemouth.

Kevin Hylton, Professor of Equality and Diversity in Sport from Leeds Beckett University (pictured left) shared narratives from Black and Asian football coaches extracted from his recent research on how humour is used to mediate against racial microaggressions.

Dr Gabriel delivered a presentation on pedagogies of social justice and cultural democracy, based on an evaluation of teaching materials and tailored workshops developed for a higher education institution to enhance race equality and inclusive teaching practice.

Dr Shirley Thompson, a reader in Music at Westminster University is a classical violinist and world famous classical composer, who in 2004 became the first woman in Europe to compose and conduct a symphony in the last 40 years.

In her presentation, Heroines of the Opera: Democratizing the Art of Opera Writing and performance, Dr Thompson (pictured right) spoke about her creation of leading roles for females and developing stories around African Caribbean historical figures.

Carolyn Solomon-Pryce, Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the London School of Economics and Political Science said: “I am so pleased that I made the effort to attend what proved to be an insightful and thought provoking event.”

After the presentation, guests were treated to a Caribbean buffet while networking. Dr Gabriel used the occasion to discuss her upcoming research project on engagement with digital technologies by Black elders with local organisations, who expressed a keen interest in being involved.

David Corbin, Equality and Diversity Manager at Dorset Healthcare said the BHM Soiree was “an excellent and informative evening. There is still so much work to do in this field to get full recognition of the contribution Black people have made; not just to the UK but the world. There is still a lot to learn and by coming together in celebration, recognition and challenge – we can make a difference.”

21 July 2015

Improving Nepali’s health & social care in the UK: Presentation of key findings 22 July at BU

Public engagement, Publishing Edwin van Teijlingen

Bournemouth University presents some of the key findings of the first study of its kind of the Nepali community in the UK. The report also shows the way forward for improved UK Nepali community NHS and social care provision. The research is a joint initiative between the UK Nepal Friendship Society, Bournemouth University in collaboration with the South East London Nepali community and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Key findings from the report suggest in particular that the elderly Nepali population struggle to access cultural appropriate health and social care. This results in people accessing health services too late. Further research is needed on mental health, especially on loneliness and social isolation in the elderly, but also on minorities within the broader community as well as those with limited English language skills. Its recommendations have potential transformational value for the relationship between this ethnic minority, most well-known for its Gurkha community, and the NHS and social care providers.

Many Nepali people evidenced that they struggle with accessing and navigating NHS services, and that there are significant confidence-building requirements that need to be addressed concerning a revealed need for experiencing more equitable NHS customer service provision. The lead author Dr. Bibha Simkhada is Visiting Faculty at BU.

Ruth Passman of NHS England, Head of Equality & Health Inequalities commented:

“This report and its findings indicate the scale of the need for the NHS to have a better understanding of the needs of the Nepali community accessing in an effective and equitable way, and through its profile of health and wellbeing seeking behaviour of the community for the NHS to have the opportunity to better address in partnership with the Nepali community, its particular needs.”
Prof. Gail Thomas the Dean of the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences added: “Bournemouth University has a long-standing history of health and health promotion research in Nepal. This study amongst the Nepali community in South London reminds us of the importance of addressing health and well-being issues in ethnic minority communities in the UK.”

Mr. Tej Bahadur Chhetri, the Acting Ambassador and Charge D’Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal sent the following message:

This report is a most helpful contribution, to promote much needed change in healthcare provision for the Nepali community, especially with the fast approaching 200 years of special friendship and diplomatic relations between Nepal and the UK. The link between the two countries started with the Gurkha regiments becoming part of the British Army, and having been so to this day. The UK Nepali community will clearly benefit from the report and its recommendations’

Alan Mercel-Sanca, the Chairperson of the UK Nepal friendship Society added: “We particularly appreciate Dr Bibha Simkhada and Dr Rajeeb Kumar Sah’s dedication and high quality research in the Nepali community. We would also like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for making this ground-breaking piece of work possible, and the NHS England Equality and Health Inequalities team for their great interest in the value of the research. The Report offers a unique opportunity for our evolving NHS and the Ministry of Health to better understand and more effectively meet the needs and hear the Voice of the Nepali community – it clearly has direct relevance to other South Asian and broader Black & Minority Ethnic communities using and seeking to access an NHS that is equitable and effective.”

The presentation will take place tomorrow Wednesday 22nd July at 15.00 in the Executive Business Centre on Holdenhurst Rd. The meeting will be introduced and opened by Prof. Vanora Hundley, Deputy Dean for Research & Professional Practice in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences. Prof. Hundley herself has published several academic paper on Nepal or English-language academic journals in Nepal.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

@EvanTeijlingen

10 July 2015

UK Nepali Community Equality in Health & Social Care Study

Public engagement, Publishing Edwin van Teijlingen

Yesterday (July 9th) saw the launch of the report based on a study of the Nepali Community in the UK on Equality in Health & Social Care. The joint project between the UKNFS (UK-Nepal Friendship Society) and Bournemouth University was funded by the National Lottery and supported by The Embassy of Nepal in London, the Non Residential Nepali Association [NRNA UK], and NHS England. The presentation of the report ook place at the NRNA UK head office in Woolwich.

The Chief Guest of Honour at our launch was Mr Sushil Thapa from the Embassy of Nepal, representing His Excellency Mr Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Acting Ambassador of Nepal to the UK. The chief guest speaker was Dr. Habib Naqvi, NHS England Head of Equality, who highlighted the Report and its recommendations. The Principal Investigator Dr. Bibha Simkhada, who is also Visiting Faculty in BU’s Faculty of Health & Social Sciences, presented the key findings to the audience. Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen gave a short presentation settign this report in the wider portfolio of resarch related to Nepal conducted at BU. Mr. Alan Mercel-Sanca, Chairperson of UKNFS commented:

‘We particularly appreciate Dr Bibha Simkhada and Dr Rajeeb Kumar Sah’s dedication and high quality research in the Nepali community. We would also like to thank the Big Lottery Fund for making this ground-breaking piece of work possible, and the NHS England Equality and Health Inequalities team for their great interest in the value of the research. The Report offers a unique opportunity for our evolving NHS and the Ministry of Health to better understand and more effectively meet the needs and hear the Voice of the Nepali community – it clearly has direct relevance to other South Asian and broader Black & Minority Ethnic communities using and seeking to access an NHS that is equitable and effective.’

The Report’s Executive Summary can be found here!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

17 December 2014

BUDI at the Launch of Visions in Advocacy for BME Carers Project in Dorchester

Public engagement Ahmed Romouzy Ali

On 5th December, I went to Dorchester to attend the launch of a new project- “Visions in Advocacy for BME Carers”. It is an advocacy service for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Carers across West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland areas. This is a Unity in Vision project– which is a member of the Bournemouth Council for Voluntary Service. Their focus is to bring diverse communities together to share a common goal and celebrate their own diversity. This project is funded by the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Dorset Council to run an advocacy service for a year. The launch event was attended by delegates from local BME communities, and the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Peter Man.

I wore three hats at this event. One as a team member of Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI); one as the Visions in Advocacy for BME Carers- Project Coordinator and one as the Chair of the BME Community Engagement Panel in Dorset. In my speech I explained the work of BUDI, the goal of the project (which is to ensure that all carers are supported by a system which understands their needs, promotes their wellbeing and assists them in their caring role) and in addition informed the audience about the BME Community Engagement Panel. I welcomed and encouraged all to take part in the panel meetings to help them integrate better. It should be noted that the BME Panel is currently supported by the Access and Equalities Development Team at Dorset HealthCare University Foundation Trust (DHUFT) and Bournemouth University Carer & Service User Partnership.

The Mayor said to me upon his departure- “Thank you for everything you are doing”. I would like to extend his thanks to all staff in BUDI; all the project volunteers; and all the BME Panel members.

If you are interested in any of the above or would like to join the BME Community Engagement panel, please do not hesitate to contact me Dr Ahmed Romouzy Ali on 01202 962788 or email arali@bournemouth.ac.uk

Tagged / Black and Minority Ethnic; communities

Congratulations to Dr. Tsofliou

New joint publication with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

BUDI at the Launch of Visions in Advocacy for BME Carers Project in Dorchester

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