Our Patient, Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation workstream co-produces research with patients, carers and communities to ensure research is shaped by the people it is meant to benefit. Involving lived experience makes our work more relevant, meaningful and more likely to improve health and care.
People get involved for many different reasons. For many, it is about making a difference and helping improving health and social care. Others want to share their experiences as patients or carers, or ensure the voices of their communities are represented in research.
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What is Public Involvement?
Public involvement means doing research with people, not to or about them. This means patients, carers and community members are the experts who help shape our questions, decisions and activities.
You do not need any specialist knowledge, qualifications or experience to get involved. Public involvement is for anyone with an interest in health and research.
Public Involvement also includes:
- Engagement – sharing research and starting conversations
- Participation – taking part in research studies
Across our programme, more than 2300 public contributors have been involved in shaping research between 2019-2026. You can read more about this in our previous impact report.
How do we involve people?
We have public contributor roles in groups and committees that oversee the planning and organisation of ARC East of England. This includes the Research Inclusion Forum who over see our approach to public involvement across the ARC. The Public Involvement Hub work with our early career researcher ARC East of England Fellows to build experience in public and patient involvement. Our researchers involve the public in the research they carry out. Public contributors are offered reimbursement for their time and expenses covered.
Why It Matters
When people with lived experience guide research, it becomes more relevant and more meaningful, making a bigger impact on health and care. By getting involved in research, people can help make sure it is relevant, useful and beneficial to everyone.
What We Aim For
ARC East of England’s Patient and public involvement, engagement and participation workstream aims to:
- Make sure people can shape research and decisions at every level and all stages of research (from design to sharing results)
- Build skills and confidence in public involvement for researchers and contributors
- Create inclusive opportunities and reach a wider range of communities
- Work in partnership with community and voluntary organisations
- Value and support contributors through clear communication, feedback and payment
- Capture and share the difference public involvement makes.
Overall, we aim to create an environment where everyone can contribute in ways that suit them, supported by clear communication, flexibility and respect.
