A number of regional networks also support public involvement and engagement, aiming to bring public involvement professionals and researchers together to reduce duplication of effort, share best practice and encourage collaboration. These groups include:
Birch is a dynamic and inclusive network of individuals and organisations with an interest in community engagement and involvement in health, care and wellbeing research across Birmingham and Solihull. Through regular newsletters and quarterly ‘meet-ups’, the network aims to create a space for people to share their activities and evidence, communicate opportunities for collaboration and learn from, and with, each other. Our vision is of a cohesive system of health and social care research and engagement partners, undertaking activity which:
- Has community priorities at its heart
- Accesses and builds upon the existing research/engagement evidence, without duplication
- Makes a positive difference to tackling social/health inequalities and rebalances power asymmetries
- Connects with/involves senior leaders/policy makers within health and social care system
- Is built upon equitable, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships between researchers, community organisations and citizens
- Is built upon the sharing of best practices, toolkits and skills.
Current members of Birch include representatives from community organisations, academic institutions, NHS bodies and the Local Authority.
Public Involvement and Lay Accountability in Research (PILAR) Network
PILAR is a partnership of professional and public members involved in public involvement and engagement in health research and its use in the NHS within the West Midlands. PILAR’s members include NIHR and other research-related organisations in the region.
It provides regional leadership and strategic direction for public involvement and are committed to improving and promoting effective and meaningful public involvement in research conducted in the region.
PILAR’s three overarching aims are to:
- Encourage patients, the public, researchers and health care professionals to realise the potential of public involvement in research and innovation
- Ensure that public involvement is embedded in all stages of research and the uptake of innovations from research into practice
- Share best practice for public involvement across the region
PILAR meets virtually four times per year to share PPIE best practice and encourage collaboration across research related organisations.
Contact: Co-Chairs: Magdalena Skrybant m.t.skrybant@bham.ac.uk & Steven Blackburn s.blackburn@nihr.ac.uk.