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Bradford, 31st May, 2025
Afrikindness is proud to announce the successful award of funding from Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust to recruit a Community Engagement Officer — a vital role that will focus on improving engagement and understanding between health services and African and Black communities in Bradford.
This partnership marks a significant milestone in our continued efforts to ensure equitable access, culturally relevant health communication, and stronger community representation within local systems.
Why This Is Strategic
In recent years, disparities in access to mental health services, low trust in statutory systems, and underrepresentation in health research have continued to impact African and Black communities. By working in partnership with the Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Afrikindness aims to bridge this gap through a trusted, community-led approach.
The Community Engagement Officer will play a crucial role in delivering Afrikindness’ proven Education and Engagement (E&E) model, designed to build trust, gather feedback, and amplify the voices of underserved communities. This includes hosting culturally sensitive focus groups, recruiting local parents into the Afrikindness Community Empowerment Programme, and coordinating a major community engagement event in Bradford.
“We are excited to launch this next phase of work in Bradford. This funding enables us to deepen our community-rooted work, build long-term relationships, and support inclusive health engagement,” said Dr Pedi Obani, Parent Team Lead and ACEP Lead Bradford Afrikindness. “We are grateful to Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust for recognising the importance of collaboration and for investing in community-led solutions.”
Key Responsibilities of the Role Include:
- Mapping and analysing African and Black communities in Bradford.
- Building relationships with faith groups, schools, and grassroots organisations.
- Supporting the delivery of the Education & Engagement (E&E) model and collecting feedback on its cultural relevance.
- Collaborating with NHS Trust teams including Research Engagement and Young Dynamos.
- Recruiting local parents into leadership programmes.
- Coordinating a joint community event within the contract period.
- Collecting and analysing data from outreach activities and focus groups.
- Preparing an impact report and presenting findings to stakeholders.
This role will support the long-term goal of advancing inclusion, improving culturally appropriate service delivery, and fostering trust between health providers and diverse communities.
After several interview stages and a rigorous selection process, we are delighted to announce that Kalenga Mtonga will take on the role of Community Engagement Officer—our very first employee at Afrikindness. She will begin her journey in June, working closely with Bradford district NHS Foundation Trust to drive inclusive community engagement.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Mark Dawson, Head of Research and Knowledge Services, for his unwavering support, belief in community-driven work, and commitment to fostering real change.
Watch this space for more updates as we begin this exciting new chapter!
Join Us in Creating Change
Afrikindness invites community members, organisations, and leaders in Bradford to work with us on this transformative journey. We believe this work will lay the foundation for sustainable community health partnerships across West Yorkshire.
To learn more about Afrikindness or to connect with our upcoming community work in Bradford, visit our Community Empowerment Page or follow us on social media @afrikindness.
Media Enquiries:
Kalenga Mtonga
Community Engagement Officer, Afrikindness
Email: kalenga.mtonga@afrikindness.org
Phone: 03301335442
Website: www.afrikindness.org
