Diabetes Community Champions: Implementation and impact across Surrey Heartlands

ABSTRACT

Aims: The main role of Community Champions is to educate and raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK by organising stalls, talks, presentations and healthy living days at community centres, health fairs and local festivals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the delivery and outcomes of a regional implementation of the Diabetes UK Community Champions project, focusing on Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME), Gypsy Roma Travellers, and student populations, in the Surrey health region. Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation approach was adopted, incorporating routinely collected data and interviews with champions and stakeholders. Results and conclusions: The number of Community Champions recruited (n = 27) exceeded target (n = 20). Champions were very satisfied with their training. Champions raised awareness through organised events and informally through conversations with members of their family and community However, covid-19 put a halt to all in-person awareness raising events. Overall, the Diabetes UK Community Champions project was successfully implemented in the Surrey Heartlands area. Some weaknesses of the project included its scale and extent of monitoring;namely, behaviour change or clinical data could not be recorded. However, interview data suggested that Champions themselves made a range of lifestyle changes. Although no members of the Gypsy Roma Traveller community were recruited as champions, significant engagement had been made with the community. Interview data suggested a lack of confidence in organising events without the help of the coordinating project manager. To address this, training and ongoing support for Champions should be extended.