This blog by Rachel Matthews and Susan Anderson shares new opportunities to get involved in the UCL Centre for Co-production in Health Research.

Hi everyone, we’re really excited to be reaching out about three opportunities to get involved with the Centre. Take a look and let us know if you’re interested!

Apply to join our Allies Group

Are you:

1. A good listener?
2. Comfortable asking questions?
3. Interested in health and research?
4. Living with a condition or disability, or supporting people who do?
5. Curious about how health research could become more inclusive?

We’re looking for two new people to join our Allies Group from the next meeting – the morning of Tuesday 26 November (central London location). We are approaching an important stage in the life of the Centre as we plan for its launch in 2020 and long term future, and we need your help!

For those of you who haven’t met us before, the Centre is being developed with a network of co-producers. We’re funded by the Wellcome Trust via the Institutional Strategic Support Fund is a 5-year strategic initiative designed to support the co-production of health and social care research. Early on, we co-produced our principles we live by and they shape how we all work together. For us, co-production is about encouraging collaboration and underlining the value of people’s expertise through experience; researchers, practitioners and public work together sharing power and responsibility from the start to the end of a research project. As a member of the Allies group you would be expected to attend Allies Group meetings and Centre events. We will offer support, feedback and learning opportunities as part of our co-producer network and more widely in the UK.

How do I apply?

1. Read the Allies Group Role Description (PDF – if you would prefer a Word version, please email us on the details below).
2. Ensure that you understand and embrace the Centre ‘Principles to Live By‘. Still interested? Great! Please read on.
3.  Write a statement (approximately 250 words/half a side of of A4) telling us about:
   • What interests you about the Allies Group and the Centre for Co-production?
   • What would you like to bring to the group?
   • What would you like to get from being a member?
   • What makes you feel energised?
4. Email your statement to Rachel Matthews at rachel.matthews@ucl.ac.uk. If you would like to have a chat before submitting an application, please reach out to plan a time. Please note: deadline for applications is noon (12pm) on Friday 25 October. We’ll be in touch with next steps soon after that.

Come to our next Co-creation Session

On Thursday 31 October, 13:30-1630, we’ll be building on our earlier co-creation sessions to further develop our learning and development support for co-producers. The venue will be in West London, near Hammersmith. Anyone is welcome – some people will have participated in co-creation sessions before, but we’re looking forward to welcoming new people too! Here’s more on how co-creation sessions work. Email coproduction@ucl.ac.uk if you’d like to come.

Opportunity to join SCIE’s Co-production Network

Our friends at SCIE let us know that they’re looking for a new member for their Co-production Network! They’re working with us to open this opportunity up to someone living with a condition or disability, or supporting people who do. If this sounds like you and you’re interested (more information below), please email Rachel Matthews at rachel.matthews@ucl.ac.uk by noon (12pm) on Friday 25 October. At our next event, we’ll draw names from a hat to see who will be joining the network!

What is SCIE’s Co-Production Network?

The Network is a group of people who use services, carers and people from equalities groups who are involved in co-production. They form a group of people that are actively involved in SCIE’s work and is a key part of SCIE’s co-production approach. Its role is to support user, carer and equality groups’ involvement in SCIE and provide a pool of stakeholders which SCIE can work with to co-produce projects and programmes. A full list of current members and more information on the Network is here.

Why join? 

• Meet like-minded people: find out about other pieces of co-production and social care work and collaborate with new people.
• A free place at the Co-Production Festival: Once a year SCIE holds a Co-production Festival. It’s a chance to have fun and celebrate co-production and the vital role that people who use services and carers have in improving services.
• Paid opportunities: SCIE sends network members regular updates about our work and there are paid opportunities to get involved.

 

That’s all for now! Our late November event will be advertised soon, so stay tuned!

If you’d like to keep hearing about what we’re up to and what we’re learning at the UCL Centre for Co-production in Health Research, sign up for our newsletter, email Susan at coproduction@ucl.ac.uk or tweet us @UCL_CoPro.