Evaluating Public Involvement - HDRC Medway Public Advisory Group

In the first year, the PAG shaped how public involvement would be structured and valued across the HDRC. Their contributions helped define the culture and direction of HDRC Medway’s approach to co-designed research and set a precedent for meaningful involvement and engagement. 

Following their first year of involvement, a qualitative evaluation was conducted to understand the experiences of the advisory group members, assess the effectiveness of the group, and identify opportunities to enhance future cohorts.  

Evaluation purpose and design 

The evaluation of the PAG sought to understand: 

• Expectations of the role and whether these had been met 

• What members enjoyed about the role 

• Areas where the role could be improved 

• Lessons learnt from the first year of the PAG

The evaluation was led by the University of Kent. Researchers carried out 3 semi-structured interviews with pairs of members. Questions were co-developed with the HDRC Public Involvement and Engagement Lead and checked to ensure relevance.  

Findings 

• Creating an inclusive environment 

The evaluation identified that the key strengths of the group was its ability to foster an inclusive and respectful environment, where every member felt safe and empowered to contribute. The independent public chair and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead supported the group with thoughtful facilitation and clear guidance, which helped create a space where diverse opinions were welcomed and valued. 

“I didn’t feel that I wasn’t able to express an opinion, even if it was different to someone else’s... that’s really important and I hope that carries on.” 

The evaluation also found that members felt genuinely valued by the wider HDRC team. An HDRC academic was present at meetings, and a quarterly PAG newsletter kept members up to date with HDRC activity.  

Relationships were described as non-hierarchical and collaborative, with consistent communication and transparency contributing to a strong sense of partnership.

“That kind of respect being equal and non-hierarchical… it’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed it.”  

Regular updates, clear processes, and responsiveness to feedback was appreciated by members, reinforcing their sense of belonging and purpose within the wider HDRC team. 

• Enabling personal and professional growth 

Participation in the group was described as a catalyst for personal development. Members gained new skills, expanded their networks, and discovered new interests. Members have since become co-applicants on research bids, joined regional research networks, provided consultancy on future projects, and supported training on public involvement in research — a testament to the long-term value of their involvement. 

“It opens up a lot of doors… I’ve met a lot of people in Medway and Kent.” 

• Establishing the infrastructure for public involvement 

Co-design was embedded right from the start with members designing their own ‘Ways of Working’ and ‘Terms of Reference’, as well as contributing to other key documents. This led to clear improvements in how new members are welcomed, how their roles are explained, and how communication is managed — helping to build a stronger infrastructure for future PAG cohorts. 

Members recognised the importance of this foundational work and expressed a strong desire to be more involved in activities with research and the public in the future. Members feedback and enthusiasm has led to plans for increased opportunities in research delivery and community engagement. 

• Learning and opportunities to improve the PAG experience 

The evaluation identified several opportunities to enhance the PAG experience, including more regular meetings to maintain momentum and reduce repetition, pre-meeting updates to improve efficiency, clearer role descriptions and expectations from the outset, and a newsletter to maintain communication across cohorts and share HDRC updates. 

An impact log has also been introduced so members can easily recognise their contribution and the difference this has made to the work of the HDRC. 

For more details, please contact Alexandra Bucur-Nica, Research Involvement Project Manager on alexandra.nica@medway.gov.uk

This learning story was prepared with support from NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health delivered by Newcastle University and Partners. With thanks to HDRC Medway for providing the content.