Abstract
Background
Public involvement in clinical translational research is increasingly recognized as
essential for relevant and robust research. Public involvement must be diverse and inclusive to enable research that has the potential to reach those that stand to benefit from it the most, and thus address issues of health equity. Several recent reports, however, indicate that public involvement is exclusive, including in its interactions with ethnic groups. This paper outlines a novel community-led methodology – a community sandpit – to address the inclusion of ethnic groups in public involvement in research, reports on its evaluation, findings, legacy and impact.
Methods
Through careful planning, relationship-building, co-design and co-delivery between the Public Programmes team based at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Greater Manchester Black and Minority Ethnic Network, the community sandpit was held in July 2018.
Results
15 community organisations took part in the participatory 2-day event, as well as 6 researchers, and 6 creative practitioners. 6 community-based partnership projects were seed-funded; 4 of these carried on to receive additional funding. Conclusions:
Evaluation of the sandpit showed the format to be well-received by all: it levelled power relationships between community organisations, health researchers and research infrastructure; it developed capacity amongst researchers about the accessibility, role and potential of community organisations. Described as “not another community seed fund” by community partners, the sandpit offered equitable avenues for collaboration within Greater Manchester translational research and led to the formation of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Research Advisory Group. The method has the potential to be replicated elsewhere to
Public involvement in clinical translational research is increasingly recognized as
essential for relevant and robust research. Public involvement must be diverse and inclusive to enable research that has the potential to reach those that stand to benefit from it the most, and thus address issues of health equity. Several recent reports, however, indicate that public involvement is exclusive, including in its interactions with ethnic groups. This paper outlines a novel community-led methodology – a community sandpit – to address the inclusion of ethnic groups in public involvement in research, reports on its evaluation, findings, legacy and impact.
Methods
Through careful planning, relationship-building, co-design and co-delivery between the Public Programmes team based at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Greater Manchester Black and Minority Ethnic Network, the community sandpit was held in July 2018.
Results
15 community organisations took part in the participatory 2-day event, as well as 6 researchers, and 6 creative practitioners. 6 community-based partnership projects were seed-funded; 4 of these carried on to receive additional funding. Conclusions:
Evaluation of the sandpit showed the format to be well-received by all: it levelled power relationships between community organisations, health researchers and research infrastructure; it developed capacity amongst researchers about the accessibility, role and potential of community organisations. Described as “not another community seed fund” by community partners, the sandpit offered equitable avenues for collaboration within Greater Manchester translational research and led to the formation of the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Research Advisory Group. The method has the potential to be replicated elsewhere to
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Research Involvement and Engagement |
| Publication status | Submitted - 23 Nov 2020 |