Meet our intern, Sabrina!
How did you find out about the internship at Healthwatch Tower Hamlets?
I researched not-for-profit companies in my area as I wanted to contribute to the community, and after working as a Community Research Associate for 6 months to develop my data research skills, I learned about the internship. After working with Mari on the Menopause Research Project, I pursued the internship because I enjoyed taking part in these studies. It also offered the opportunity to learn, expand my skillset and maintain my current skills working in Marketing for Healthwatch: brainstorming and redesigning campaigns for Social Media.
What kind of things did you learn during your internship?
During my time as an Intern, I invested my time to work on the current Research Project which determines and analyses the barriers in healthcare for ethnic minorities in Tower Hamlets. I conducted community outreach to engage with the multicultural landscape of Tower Hamlets, assessing cultural dynamics and initiating contact to recruit them for the study. I also spearheaded both quantitative and qualitative data analysis from over 20 sources for the annual Stakeholders Feedback Report. In collaboration with the Community Engagement Lead, I created content for social media to improve awareness of the research conducted at Healthwatch. We have also brainstormed various strategies to optimise digital engagement. At in-person events, I connected with local residents to understand community diversity, which helped me become a better public speaker.
Did the internship improve your learning/confidence or knowledge in a specific area?
Absolutely - working with Healthwatch Data Researchers, I found a new skill I genuinely enjoy exploring and developing, specifically Data Analytics. Who knew Pivot Tables could be so exciting?
I am also grateful to be able to directly contribute and address the health inequality in Tower Hamlets, whilst developing new skills.
What did you enjoy the most about the internship?
I enjoyed how the researchers were so friendly and understanding: teaching & communicating. Collaborating and working as a team was truly a wonderful experience that I would like to continue working with Healthwatch in the future. They were also very receptive when I wanted to target different sectors in Healthwatch which offered me the chance to work across multiple departments and gain an understanding of how they helped the community.
Has working with Healthwatch changed how you view health and social care services?
Having worked in healthcare directly, I found it is absolutely vital to have an independent body which holds healthcare practice accountable to ensure we are optimising treatment for patients. Research is essential in identifying how we, as a community, can improve, and having feedback from residents - both good and bad - is tantamount to becoming a healthier and happier borough.
Thank you Healthwatch Tower Hamlets!
