This year, colleagues from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Research and Development team and NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF): Oxford Health attended Oxford Pride 2026 to show support for the local LGBTQIA+ community, speaking to attendees about our research opportunities.
Oxford Pride 2026 celebrated the LGBTQ+ community with a vibrant parade through the city, and featured stands from local and national organisations that support and champion equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Colleagues engaged Pride attendees through a creative flower making activity, using coloured paper reflecting the colours of the Pride rainbow, as a welcoming way to initiate conversations about opportunities to get involved in research at Oxford Health.
Colleagues also gathered informal feedback on barriers and enablers to taking part in research.
Attendees suggested that they were interested in taking part in research that may help others in the future, as a way of giving back to their community.
Some mentioned time commitments and anxiety about the research process in unfamiliar settings as barriers to talking part in research. Suggestions on overcoming these barriers included flexible participation, options to engage remotely and clear information on what the research process includes.
Reflecting on the day, Jo Searle, Memory & Cognition Research Delivery Team Lead, who was present on the stand said, “It was an amazing colourful day where we had the pleasure of meeting so many people interested in our research.”
Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, also visited the stand and took a photo with our colleagues, showing her support for our work.
Angela Conlan, CRF: Oxford Health Public and Patient Involvement, Engagement and Participation Lead, who was on stand said:
“We were honoured to return to Oxford Pride again this year to showcase the important research delivered by the Trust and CRF: Oxford Health at such a fun event.
“We were pleased to meet so many attendees interested in the latest developments in mental and cognitive health, and grateful for the thoughtful feedback shared at the stand.
“This insight is invaluable to our work, helping us better understand awareness of research and improve how we communicate it to the public.”
To learn more or ask questions about our research email: [email protected]
View images from Oxford Pride below:
