This list states the research priorities as identified by the work of the national BME voluntary sector & equalities agencies; demonstrating WEDHS commitment to a joined-up approach.

• Mental health
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• Children and Young People
• The health and social care/welfare needs of women (including survivors of domestic violence)
• Mainstreaming Equalities
• Wider determinants of health and well-being
• BME community development
• The health and social care/welfare needs of asylum seekers and refugees
• Environment and Community Safety

Organisations which work directly with BME patients and service users are in an ideal position with regard to knowing, and understanding, the needs of black and ethnic minority individuals and groups. As the majority of their services were created to meet the specific needs of the local communities they serve, their accumulated knowledge, from years of face-to-face working, not only offers a unique insight, but enables the type of two-way conversation so essential to the success of the WEDHS programme.

With the WEDHS approach, organisations are able to ensure that BME patients and service users really do have a say in the research and development process, either by representing them in a WEDHS Partnership Research Project or by supporting them to get involved directly through this gateway.

Professionals and staff - both paid and unpaid - working in the voluntary sector, and in equalities agencies, play an essential role in WEDHS programme, as expressed by a respondent in the WEDHS Scoping Study 2005:

"The 'aim' should be to root R&D in the priorities of BME specialist organisations so that joined-up working can take place and that consultation can be a two-way rather than the usual one way- top-down- exchange. Moreover, these voluntary agencies are key access points to BME groups and will have invariably built their priorities on the basis of the needs of their constituents. The work of these established regional and All-Wales health and social care organisations, in the initial stage at least, should be used to inform (WEDHS) research strategy."