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Background Participatory approaches are increasingly being used for inclusive Public Health practice. This conceptual paper it addresses ethnic minority health by synthesising two frameworks on participatory actions to guide engagement of key stakeholders on a culturally sensitive topic of drugs and alcohol (D&A) in the South Asian and Muslim (SAM) community in the UK. The study used Participatory Action Frameworks (PAFs) to amplify marginalised voices and build trust within a religious and cultural context.Methods Two complementary participatory action frameworks (PAFs) were used to engage the research team, SAM community members and practitioners. Interviews were conducted, with recruitment by snowballing techniques in Northeast and Midlands, England including carers with lived experience. The key principles that guided this work included a) an iterative process of planning, action and reflection and b) the eight staged structured inquiry that embeds reflexivity, co-production and cultural competence. The study addressing the religious and cultural dynamics shaping their participation.Results This research draws insights from a small-scale qualitative study of carers, practitioners, and community ambassadors. Carers were working in isolation to support family members and/or friends with D&A use. These ‘hidden carers’ experiences included experiencing stigma and trust issues within the SAM community. The combined PAR framework gave a voice to these invisible carers who highlighted that they tended to rely on informal networks for support. Hence, the study uncovers that stigma and trust prevented them from accessing support services but also that religious institutions were not equipped to address their specific needs.Conclusion This transferable conceptual framework synthesises two PAFs to address sensitive topics in minority ethnic groups as a tool for social justice in Public Health. This study demonstrates the value of embedding PAFs in engaging invisible carers in the SAM community so that they can better support D&A users to engage minority ethnic groups and reduce health inequalities.