In July 2025, members of the SPHR’s Public Advisory Network worked with researchers to deliver an online training session on public involvement and engagement in public health research. More than 50 early-career researchers from across England took part.
Co-developed by public partners and researchers
This training was distinctive because it was co-developed. From the outset, public partners and researchers collaborated to plan, deliver, and review the session. Decisions about content, structure, and format were made collaboratively, using a facilitative, inclusive approach rather than a top-down model. This ensured the training reflected both research priorities and lived experience.
What did the training cover?
The training focused on practical questions commonly raised by early-career researchers, including:
- Why public involvement and engagement matter in public health research
- When to involve the public during a research project
- Who to involve and how to reach people
- How to plan, deliver, and review involvement activities
The aim was not only to share information, but also to build confidence and encourage inclusive, thoughtful practice.
Public partner Debs Smith, said:
“I felt heard throughout and felt everyone was very accessible. Being involved made me more confident in my ability to train early-career researchers. I think having people with lived experience enhanced the training day and, hopefully, made those who attended better at Involvement and Engagement in the future.”
Learning from the experience
Feedback was gathered from both researchers and public partners after the session. Key learning included:
- Accessibility and format: Running the training online made it easier for people in different locations to attend and reduced travel and cost barriers. However, some participants felt that in-person sessions can better support relationship-building and deeper discussion. This highlighted the value of offering flexible ways to take part.
- Trust and communication: The experience reinforced the importance of trust, clarity, and open communication. Not everyone feels comfortable asking for support or sharing their needs, so creating welcoming and respectful spaces requires time and care.
What happens next?
This training will continue to develop based on what we learned. Next steps include:
- Exploring different delivery formats, such as in-person, online, or recorded sessions
- Refining the content to address gaps and emerging needs
- Sharing learning with public partners and researchers to close the feedback loop
By working collaboratively and learning from experience, we can strengthen public involvement and engagement and ensure research better reflects the communities it aims to serve.
