Getting started

4 reasons to get involved with research:

• make a positive difference to research.
• develop new skills and confidence.
• make scientific findings more relevant.
• shape future medical research/science.

Traci Carroll, a public contributor, reflects on the second annual “Getting started in participatory and co-produced research workshop” and  talks about her public involvement experience with the Faculty of Medicine.

Tinashe Munyebvu, a former PhD student in Mechanical Engineering at Southampton discusses her experience of public involvement in a biomedical engineering context. She explains the importance of co-production in a field that is widely technology driven.

What makes a welcome, safe and brave space for coproduction?

People need to understand the context. There needs to be a link made with what has happened before, and what else is happening now.

How everyone feels, and being together

Being able to be yourself:

• feeling comfortable
• accepting individual differences
• be open to all
• the chance to get involved or just listen

An open, non-judgemental and listening environment:

• a space that fosters honesty and trust
• recognising that inequalities and power imbalances exist
• creating space to listen to each other
• respectful disagreement is okay

Foster understanding and learning:

• sharing knowledge
• short summaries
• pausing for reflection
• getting to the root problem

Getting the setting right

Choosing the setting to meet the needs of the people:

• starting in trusted settings, where the community feels comfortable
• "community animators" play a crucial role, they can be the glue bringing everyone together

The setting is welcoming:

knowing where you are going and what will happen

• friendly greetings
• refreshments are essential

The physical environment:

• be responsive to different sensory needs
• access to a loo
• access to seating

Getting started in co-production and participatory research

Around Southampton

Southampton Voluntary Services (SVS) gives you hundreds of ways to get involved, helping all sorts of fantastic charities and community groups to make a difference to people in Southampton.

National resources

The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) facilitates a network for people committed to public engagement with higher education. It is a space to share ideas, opportunities, experiences and problem solve together.

Cochrane Training offers a series of webinars dedicated to patient and public involvement in health and social care research.