Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS

Sir Patrick Vernon to lead Rio talk as film spotlights black and working-class health researchers

Fresh from being knighted for his services to racial equality and social justice, Professor Sir Patrick Vernon will return to Hackney this week to chair the opening night of a powerful new documentary exploring the experiences of Black and working-class people in academic health research.

The free screening of Turning Points: Black and Working Class Journeys into Health Research will take place at the Rio Cinema in Dalston on Thursday, 9 July, followed by a panel discussion led by Sir Patrick.

Directed by Professor Karen Wells of the Birkbeck Institute for Social Research, the 44-minute documentary follows three professors and a PhD student as they share their journeys into health research, the barriers they faced, and how their lived experiences have shaped their work.

Funded by the Wellcome Trust, the film aims to encourage greater diversity in academic research by highlighting voices that remain underrepresented in universities and research institutions.

Sir Patrick, a former Labour councillor for Hackney’s Queensbridge ward, said the discussion will focus on breaking down barriers that prevent Black and working-class communities from entering academia. He pointed to financial challenges, declining social mobility, and a lack of representation as key obstacles, while encouraging young people not to give up on their ambitions.

The documentary will also be screened in Tottenham, Peckham and Brixton, with Sir Patrick chairing discussions at each event. He hopes the film will inspire future researchers and demonstrate why diverse lived experiences are essential to shaping better health research and public policy.