Last week, the HDRC held the first Public Voice Group meeting at the Welcome Centre in Coventry.
The group allows Coventry residents to discuss what wider determinants are important to them and have a say in the HDRC and future research. They learned about the HDRC objectives and how their voice is essential to be at the heart of all work.
The session involved members pinning where they live on a visual map. This opened a conversation about what they love about Coventry and the different communities in their area. Understanding lived experience about how environmental, social, and economic factors impact an individual's health is crucial in shaping how the HDRC is developed and delivered. For future meetings, the group plans to discuss topics we should prioritise for research. Examples of these could include housing, education, or transport.
Public involvement within the HDRC is a partnership between the collaboration and members of the public that can influence and shape research. Public involvement in research is research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to,’ ‘about’, or ‘for’ them. Involving the public ensures that Coventry residents rightfully have a voice in research that may affect them. Their involvement helps the research to be relevant and impactful and should provide positive experiences and outcomes for the public.