The Over 50s Black Men Forum (O5BM) was proud to contribute to the Luton Dad’s Inclusion Conference held on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at the Postgraduate and CPD Centre, University of Bedfordshire, Luton Campus. The conference brought together academic, professional and lived-experience perspectives on fatherhood, inclusion and family support, with contributions from speakers across health, children’s services and community practice.
Representing O5BM, Chidi Umeano, Partnership and Engagement Lead, delivered a presentation titled “Health Equity through Community Engagement”. His contribution focused on how community-based approaches can create more effective and inclusive routes into support, particularly for men and families who may be under-represented in mainstream services.
Drawing on O5BM’s grassroots work, Chidi highlighted the organisation’s role as a community-embedded preventative health platform supporting older Black men and their families across multiple locations in England. He explained that O5BM provides trusted spaces where members can connect, share experiences and take part in activities that promote wellbeing, cultural engagement and healthier ageing. The presentation showed that health equity is not simply about offering the same service to everyone, but about removing barriers so that people who are often overlooked can access support in ways that feel relevant, respectful and safe.
The presentation also outlined O5BM’s practical model of delivery, combining Ask the Doctor sessions, mental health workshops and community physical activities. This integrated approach is designed to build trusted relationships first, then create opportunities for prevention-focused health engagement and sustained participation. Chidi shared that this model has helped reduce isolation, improve wellbeing and support healthier ageing among older Black men who are often missed by traditional provision.
A key message from the session was that the learning from O5BM’s work has direct relevance for father inclusion. Although O5BM is not a fathers-only service, the presentation stressed that men are more likely to engage when the offer begins with trust, dignity, familiarity and peer connection, rather than only appearing at moments of crisis. Community spaces, Chidi argued, can provide the first trusted route into conversations about health, inclusion and support, long before formal intervention becomes necessary.
Chidi also shared practical reflections for professionals and service leaders. These included the importance of inviting fathers directly, working through trusted community anchors, making engagement more practical through familiar venues and flexible communication, building cultural competence, and measuring inclusion honestly by looking not only at attendance figures but also at who remains absent. The overall message was clear: inclusion is not only a policy duty, it is a design choice.
The wider conference programme reflected the breadth of the conversation, with sessions on the perinatal journey, inclusive maternity practice, reducing health inequalities in Luton, child development and DadPad. O5BM’s contribution added a vital community perspective, showing that health equity can be advanced when services work alongside trusted grassroots organisations that understand how to reach men in ways that are culturally competent, practical and sustainable.
O5BM remains committed to demonstrating how community-led health engagement and physical activity can improve outcomes, reduce loneliness and strengthen social connection. Events such as the Luton Dad’s Inclusion Conference provide an important opportunity to share learning, influence practice and champion approaches that ensure fathers, older Black men and their families are included on purpose rather than as an afterthought.
To find out more about O5BM’s work, partnerships and community activities, visit www.o5bmforum.org.uk or contact the team at info@o5bmforum.org.uk
