VOICES is about bringing people together to make adult social care research more meaningful, accessible and useful. Led by people with lived experience and supported by researchers, academics and partners across the West Midlands, we are co-producing a practical roadmap to help people work together as equal partners in research.
Over the last few months, through workshops, steering group sessions and conversations, we have been exploring what good co-produced research looks like. We have been gathering experiences, ideas and evidence to understand what is working well, where the gaps are, and what opportunities exist to improve how research is designed, delivered and used.
A key part of VOICES is helping people better understand what research is and how they can be involved.
For some, that may mean helping to shape research questions. For others, it could mean becoming co-applicants on funding bids, contributing to articles and reports, helping analyse findings, sharing learning, or taking on leadership roles within research projects. The roadmap will bring together practical guidance, real-life case studies, tools and examples that show what good co-production looks like in practice and how people can get involved at different stages of the research journey.
Importantly, this work is not only about understanding the experiences of people with lived experience. It is also about listening to researchers and academics. We want to better understand the challenges, barriers and opportunities they face when involving people in research and what support they need to do this well. Over the coming months, we hope to hear from more researchers and academic partners so the roadmap reflects both perspectives and helps build stronger relationships between communities and research organisations.
We have also been learning from wider developments across the research sector, including discussions linked to NIHR and the growing recognition that co-production has an important role in strengthening research. One area emerging from our work is the opportunity for researchers and academics to be coached and supported by people with lived experience, helping build confidence, understanding and more effective ways of working together.
Ultimately, VOICES is about creating a lived experience leadership pathway within research. We want to support people to move from sharing their experiences to influencing decisions, shaping projects, becoming co-applicants, contributing to publications and helping lead change. By bringing lived experience, practice and research together, we can create research that is grounded in what is happening in people's lives today and focused on how we make things better for tomorrow.