A pioneering community-led programme tackling HIV stigma and improving access to testing and prevention among African and Caribbean heritage communities in Bristol has been commended in recognition of its inclusion in this year’s NIHR Impact Awards.
Common Ambition Bristol (CAB), previously an ARC West project and now part of the research portfolio reported by ARC South West, brought together community members, researchers, sexual health services and public health teams to co-design and deliver culturally relevant approaches to HIV prevention and testing.
The programme was recognised by the NIHR Impact Awards panel for its commitment to ensuring community members were central to the research process, with co-production underpinning the design, delivery and evaluation of the work.
From research to real-world change
CAB used community outreach, multimedia campaigns, health promotion events and community testing clinics to improve HIV knowledge, reduce stigma and increase access to testing and prevention services.
The programme has delivered measurable improvements, including increased HIV testing among African and Caribbean heritage communities in Bristol, alongside increased knowledge of HIV, improved awareness of testing options and reduced stigma.
Dr Fiona Fox, Lead Researcher for Common Ambition BristolThis recognition highlights the power of partnership working. Common Ambition Bristol was built on the principle that solutions are most effective when communities shape them. CAB has demonstrated that meaningful community involvement can increase engagement with HIV testing and prevention, improve experiences of care, and influence how services are designed and delivered. We are proud of what has been achieved and excited to see the approach being adopted more widely.
The project also supported community members to develop research skills, with community researchers working alongside academics across data collection, analysis and dissemination. One community researcher went on to receive an NIHR doctoral fellowship and became
CAB’s influence has extended beyond the original project. Learning has informed local sexual health services, including cultural competency training and patient information and has been incorporated into Bristol NHS Foundation Trust’s Experience of Care programme.
In April 2025, CAB secured a 10-year local authority commission to deliver community outreach services for underserved communities across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire – embedding learning from the programme within regional sexual health services.
The team has also shared its learning nationally through conferences, webinars and the , supporting others to explore more equitable ways of working with communities.
The NIHR Impact Awards commendation adds to a growing list of recognition for CAB, which previously won the Patient Experience Network National Award in 2024 and was Highly Commended at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2025.
The recognition highlights that sharing power with communities to shape the services they need is essential to reducing health inequalities. CAB’s co-production approach has improved HIV awareness, testing and prevention, and has also built trust between communities, researchers and health services.
Professor Jeremy Horwood, Principal Investigator for Common Ambition BristolWe are delighted that Common Ambition Bristol has been recognised in the NIHR Impact Awards. This commendation is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved in Common Ambition Bristol, particularly our community partners whose insight, experience and leadership have driven the programme's success. Together, we have created an approach that not only improves HIV awareness, testing and prevention, but also builds trust between communities, researchers and health services. It is incredibly encouraging to see this work recognised by NIHR and to know that its impact is being felt both locally and nationally.
Matthew Wilson, Common Ambition Bristol Project ManagerAt CAB, we know that sharing power with communities to shape the services they need is essential to reducing health inequalities, improving access to care and creating lasting change. It is a pleasure to be recognised by the NIHR Impact Awards, and a further testament to the passion, expertise and commitment invested by our partners across the community and the health and care system. Seeing HIV awareness, testing and prevention increase in our communities as a result has meant everything to us, and it shows exactly what meaningful co-production can achieve as a powerful tool for building health equity.