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How you can get involved

Members of the public help guide the research we do and are embedded in all of our work 

Are you willing to share your views about research to help improve health and social care?

In 2024 we are expanding our public involvement to include a group that will work with the Public Involvement Lead (Bryony) to provide advice, guidance and feedback to ARC EoE researchers. The Public Involvement Hub will offer public involvement that is not condition or experience specific and will provide general feedback on projects, proposals, and plans for sharing research findings with the community. 

Join the ARC EoE Public Involvement Hub 

We’re inviting people who are passionate about enhancing the quality of health and social care to collaborate with researchers and local communities. There are no special qualifications or experience required. The process involves monthly online meetings, where you share your views on research projects.

Your role will be to discuss and provide feedback on research projects presented by researchers. You can help identify research topics and questions that matter to patients, caregivers, and the public and assist in simplifying research information to help improve accessibility.

You will receive an induction and any training from Bryony, the Public Involvement Lead. You will be compensated at a rate of £25 per hour.

For more information or to get involved, contact Bryony at 01223 534669 or bryony.porter@cpft.nhs.uk

The following video is an audio description of the recruitment advert. 

Remote video URL

Download more information about how to join the Public Involvement Hub

Why should I get involved in research?

Because you can make a difference to the future of health and social care. By getting involved in research, you can help make sure research is relevant, useful and beneficial to everyone. People get involved for a number of different reasons. For many, it is about making a difference and making health and social care better for everyone. Some want to share their experiences of living with a condition, being a patient or a carer. And some want to ensure the voice of their communities are represented in research. 

You do not need to have any specialist knowledge, qualifications or experience to get involved in research. Public involvement is for anyone who has an interest in health and research. You can find out more about some of the Public Contributors who are involved with ARC EoE and why they choose to be involved here.

How can I support research? 

Sometimes being involved in research can be called being a 'critical friend'. A critical friend may ask the obvious or sometimes difficult questions that nobody else has asked, sometimes known as 'pointing out the elephant in the room' in a friendly and supportive way. You can help researchers to see things they have missed or misunderstood while you look at the research from your point of view. You can offer guidance on whether you feel the research is true to the wide variety of needs and values of people who use health and social care. More information about what involvement in research looks like can be found here. 

How can I get involved with ARC EoE? 

Our researchers involve the public in their research projects, asking for feedback about the research plans, how to ensure the research is relevant to the community and how to share findings in a way that is accessible. If you would like to know about our public involvement and our current involvement opportunities, please contact our Involvement Lead:

Involvement Lead: Bryony Porter 

Email: Bryony.Porter@cpft.nhs.uk

 

 

What other ways are there to get involved in research?

Opportunities for public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research in the United Kingdom can be found on the People in Research website.