ALIGN (Addressing Inequalities in Marginalised Groups in Maternity Care) is a multi-stakeholder group of maternity researchers, clinicians, practitioners, and PPI colleagues based in the North West region, including national advocacy organisations working in women’s health. ALIGN was formed in spring 2024, and on the 3rd June 2026 held a ‘refresh and reconnect’ in-person event at the Lantern Centre in Fulwood, Preston.
It was attended by over fifty people, and designed to revisit the group’s research priorities in areas of maternity inequalities.
Members of ARC’s Women’s Health (WH) theme attended the event along with practitioners, those in healthcare-related professions and community members to share knowledge and discuss improvements to care.
The event was organised by University of Lancashire’s THRIVE research centre, and sessions were led by Kirstie Coxon, Co-Lead for ARC NWC Women’s Health theme and Siobhean Perham-McCarthy, a WH theme Public Contributor Champion.
Two keynote speakers presented: Farah Lunat, who led the ROSHNI-2 study (treatment of postnatal depression in British South Asian Women) and Shakila Thangaratinam (ARC NWC WH theme lead), who outlined current disparities in women’s health care and research, work planned within the ARC NWC Women’s Health Theme and shared opportunities to be involved.
If you would like to know more about this, or are interested in Women’s Health theme opportunities and activities, please contact our project officer, Ali Sheen (Ali.Sheen@lancaster.ac.uk)