Are you passionate about improving health and care in Wales?

Help shape the future as part of our public partnership group.

It’s important that we work to understand the health and social care needs of the people in Wales and the way health and care is delivered to meet these needs. If you live in Wales and have used health or care services in the past year, we want to hear from you. We're looking for people with real-life experience to share their views, take part in discussions, and help guide research that matters. 

The Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre is looking for people with recent experience of using health or care services in Wales to join our Public Partnership Group. The Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre was set up to make sure the best research is easy to find and used by people who make decisions about health and social care in Wales, like doctors, support workers, charities and members of the public. The goal of the centre is to help improve care by quickly providing clear answers to important research questions. Members of the public play an important role in the Centre through a small Public Partnership Group (PPG), supported by a friendly team who help make sure everyone's voice is heard and valued.

What experience do I need to help?

• Live in Wales and have used health or care services there in the past year
• Able to speak clearly and share your experiences in a helpful way
• Willing to listen to others and take part in group discussions
• Reliable and able to attend meetings (online or in person)
• Comfortable giving feedback on documents when asked
• Able to work well with others and respect different opinions
• Keep information private when needed
• Basic digital skills (e.g. using email, video calls such as Teams and writing in Word or Google Docs)
• Helpful (but not required) to have experience in research, public, or community groups
• Training and support will be provided if needed

What will I be asked to do?

• Help choose research topics by working with the team to prioritise questions suggested by professionals
• Take part in reviewing existing research by joining meetings with researchers and stakeholders
• Help shape research questions, discuss findings and review draft reports
• Support projects that collect new evidence by helping to plan the study and share results
• Write clear, easy-to-understand summaries of research findings for the public, with support from the Centre team

How long will I be needed for?

• Membership lasts up to two and a half years.
• Each project typically involves around four-six hours of input, spread over three – six months.
• Whole team meetings are held quarterly (4 times a year), usually lasting an hour, occasionally up to two hours.
• Writing lay summaries of research the PPG member is involved with (around one/two hours per study)
• Additional opportunities to share the work of the centre may include:

Symposia 

Contributing to newsletters 

Attending public engagement events alongside the team

Participation is flexible and can be adjusted to suit your needs, but all members are expected to contribute to each type of activity.

What are some of the benefits for me?

• PPG members will receive training and have the chance to help shape research priorities,  contribute to the research process and share findings, —with full support from the Centre.

 What support is offered?

• You will receive support from the PPI leads at the Evidence Centre who will help you understand what to expect, giving training, guidance and mentoring and talking things through with you when needed.
• You’ll get help with writing lay summaries and taking part in other activities.
• You will also have a main contact in the Centre Manager and admin team, who are there to help you whenever you need support.
• Cover reasonable travel expenses and additional carer or childcare costs.
• Payment for time of £25.00 per hour (people can request less if they are in receipt of state benefits). 

Have a look at our guidelines for more information.. 

If you are receiving any benefits, you can access confidential advice from the Benefits Advice Service for Involvement.  

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