This evaluation of an innovative three year Kent Community Health Foundation Trust project focuses on migrant communities who have settled in Kent, living predominantly in Dover, Folkestone and Margate and Gravesend. The aim is to reduce barriers and increase access to health services by local migrant families to address inequalities and encourage take-up of preventive services. Evidence shows particularly low engagement by Roma communities with family planning, dental care and general practice.

KCHFT will employ and train staff largely from the Roma community as community based health advisers. The evaluation will be supported by 'Roma in the Lead', a project managed by Red Zebra which is working closely with Roma families to build trusting relationships.

Led by Prof Sally Kendall, the CHSS research team will use realist evaluation and social justice frameworks. In the first project year they will work with community representatives and other key partners to develop a logic model and research methodology, and start data collection to find what works best for whom and in what context.

Start date: 07/01/19 End date: 31/10/20

Funder: Kent Community Health Foundation Trust

Funding: £20,000