King's College London

A new Standing Advisory Group (pictured above), has been convened as part of a homeless and inclusion health research collaborative between King’s College London, the University of Salford and the London School of Economics and Political Science. The first meeting, held at HSCWRU on 25 July 2024, offered opportunities for lived-experience members from London, Oxford (Leaf) and Salford (Loaves and Fishes) to meet and discuss some of the portfolio of research held by the Homelessness Research Programme (including the HOME study of the health impacts of housing) and to advise on the development of a King’s-led study on vaccine hesitancy, which has resulted in a bid being submitted to an NIHR call.

Reflections from attendees

This invitation to join the Advisory Group in London is a significant step forward for our community and the first time we have linked up with an initiative outside of our local area. We also know it is a genuine vehicle to feed into research and help shape policy for the future.

Found this experience educational and mind opening. I am building a realisation that more needs to be done about homelessness across the country – maybe we can be a part of that?

Enjoyed this – particularly sitting round a table and speak from the bottom of my heart, not seen as a pariah or nuisance.

So good today to be asked a set of real questions and to share our knowledge/experience in a safe, professional space.