Global health students and community groups mark transformative collaborations

Hands-on placements with community-based organisations gave students a unique opportunity to apply their skills to pressing local health issues.

The Global Health Societal Impact Afternoon at Imperial College London's School of Public Health brought together BSc Global Health students and community-based organisation (CBO) partners to celebrate a year of meaningful collaboration and shared learning.

Organised by the Global Health BSc team, the event showcased student placements carried out as part of the Science in Context / Community Group Placements module. This innovative module enables students to work directly with London-based CBOs, gaining hands-on experience in tackling real-world public and global health inequalities.

Opening remarks from the course team highlighted the significance of these partnerships. Dr Mariam Sbaiti, Course Director, and Dr Shyam Budhathoki, Module Lead, underscored the dual impact of enriching student learning while also supporting population health efforts led by grassroots organisations.

Placement partners included the FORWARD (Foundation for Women’s Health, research and development), Hammersmith Community Gardens Association,  The Gurkha Centre, the Young Brent Foundation and the Young Hammersmith & Fulham Foundation. These organisations, with community expertise, offered students a window into the complex social and cultural dynamics that shape health outcomes.

Students presented service improvement projects using asset-based analysis, an approach that focuses on what each community group does well and aims to create lasting improvements.

• At the Gurkha Centre, students explored collaboration with local GPs to provide Nepali translators during consultations.
• At FORWARD UK, students highlighted the organisation’s effectiveness in co-delivering female genital mutilation (FGM) training to healthcare students.
• At Hammersmith Community Gardens Association, students co-developed educational programs on the health benefits of gardening.
• Young Brent Foundation placements focused on creating a shared digital platform for community collaboration and grant support.
• Young Hammersmith & Fulham Foundation students tackled school absenteeism, proposing parent engagement workshops.

Learning Beyond the Clinic

Students reflected on the transformative nature of their experiences, not only in terms of clinical insight but also in understanding health equity and the value of community work.

"As future clinicians, we’re often encouraged to refer patients to community services," said Tasfia (ICSM Medical Student). "But it’s important to truly understand what those services offer. This placement has expanded our perspective."

Fenella, another student, echoed this: "Experiencing the work of CBOs firsthand helped me appreciate the value of social prescribing. It’s more than just knowing services exist—it’s about understanding the people, challenges, and strengths behind them."

Community Voices and Challenges

A panel discussion with community leaders and students, facilitated by Dr Richard Pinder, Public Health Consultant and Director of Undergraduate Public Health Education at Imperial School of Public Health, further explored key themes: the impact of the cost of living crisis, the need for sustainable funding, and the central role of cultural competence in delivering inclusive healthcare.

Hari Bhandari, from the Gurkha Centre, captured a common concern: “Smaller community groups are doing vital work but often lack access to the funding larger charities receive.”

Students and community partners alike praised the mutual benefits of the placements. “This experience has grounded our academic learning in real-world application,” Fenella shared.

Hari from Gurkha Centre added, “Our collaboration with Imperial students brought fresh insights and renewed momentum.”

As the afternoon came to a close, the shared sense of purpose was clear. The event not only celebrated this year’s achievements but reinforced the ongoing commitment to collaborative, equitable approaches to public health.