Kingston University academic shortlisted for national award for Kingston Council-backed project supporting migrant communities

A senior lecturer in pharmacy and public health from Kingston University has been shortlisted for a University Alliance Award for her work supporting migrant and refugee communities to integrate into life within the borough.  

Dr Ghada Elkhoury was named a finalist in the Regional Impact category of the annual higher education awards for a collaborative project with the refugee and migrant resettlement and integration team at the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Dr Elkhoury led the project, which explored the lived experiences, needs and barriers facing refugees and vulnerable migrants in a borough where more than a third of residents are born outside the UK. Using the Home Office’s Indicators of Integration 2019 framework, Dr Elkhoury delivered an in-depth health and social needs assessment involving around 100 refugees and vulnerable migrants from diverse backgrounds – including Tamils from Sri Lanka, and people from Ukraine, North Africa, North and South Korea, and Hong Kong.

The work aimed to deepen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these communities. Through the project, Dr Elkhoury provided evidence-based recommendations for the Council and its partners to help strengthen existing services and promote the wellbeing and inclusion of these communities. "We wanted to understand the breadth of people’s needs and experiences in a structured way, exploring different aspects of integration – such as housing, mental health and economic stability – and how well people feel they are supported and included," she said.

Reflecting on the findings from the research, Dr Elkhoury who is a fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, highlighted shared experiences across the diverse migrant communities she engaged with. "Different communities had specific needs, but it was very humbling to see how much people shared in what they wanted – regardless of where they were coming from. It showed that although everyone’s circumstances were different, their fundamental needs were often the same," she said.

Dr Elkhoury’s leadership extended beyond the research itself. More than 25 Kingston University healthcare students were engaged in the project, taking part in facilitating discussions with the migrant communities she worked with. "I saw a real sense of passion and civic responsibility from the students,” she said. "The exchanges between the students and migrants were incredibly powerful – it was very moving to witness. It also gave students a meaningful platform to deepen the human-centric skills at the heart of the University’s Future Skills programme – particularly empathy – bringing these skills to life in a real-world context."

She also sought perspectives from more than 17 frontline workers in voluntary and community organisations across the borough, exploring the integration challenges and positive experiences they have observed, and their insights into facilitating the integration of these communities.  

Dr Elkhoury’s efforts played a role in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames achieving Council of Sanctuary status in November 2025, a landmark recognition of the Council’s commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive borough. Dr Elkhoury also served as a member of the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network panel, which supports councils to develop best practice in welcoming and integrating migrant communities, as well as achieving Council of Sanctuary status.

Councillor Hamed, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities at Kingston Council reflected on the importance of being recognised as a Council of Sanctuary. "This recognition acknowledges our long-standing commitment to being a fair and inclusive borough, and our ongoing dedication to supporting those seeking sanctuary," she said. "We are firm champions of community-led resettlement and integration, and this award is testament to the strength of our partnerships with the voluntary sector and communities across the borough."

• Find out more about University Alliance Awards