Public involvement

At the Wolfson Centre, public involvement is an integral part of our research, and we aim to put the lived experience expertise of young people at the heart of our work.

Public involvement in research means research that is done with or by the public, not to, for or about them. It means that young people contribute directly to how our research is designed, conducted and disseminated.

We regularly seek guidance on the research questions that are important to young people and ask for input on how we undertake our research.

Guided by our dedicated Public Involvement Officer, our researchers get the opportunity to build their own public involvement expertise and knowledge by embedding the voices and experiences of young people throughout the research cycle.

Our public involvement aims

We have four key public involvement aims at the Wolfson Centre:

1. Listen to, integrate, and value the voice of lived experience within our research and strategy

Our Youth Advisory Group are active in all areas of the Centre’s work, from advising on research projects to co-creating content for our annual Summer School. Advisors are also involved in presenting to internal and external stakeholders on a regular basis.

2. Build a community of contributors

On graduation, our Youth Advisory Group members continue to contribute to the work we do at the Centre via our Alumni Group. in a variety of opportunities after they graduate meaning ensuring our working relationships have a long-term impact.

3. Train the next generation of mental health researchers on the importance of public involvement

We support researchers in the Wolfson Centre to development their public involvement skills by regularly presenting and engaging with our Youth Advisory Group. As well as gaining feedback on their project, researchers learn how to engage, interact and listen to our experts by experience.

4. Shape a best practice blueprint for involving young people in research​

The work we do with our Youth Advisory Group has been highly commended, therefore we are keen to share our practices through blogs, talks, and by being an active membership of the wider Public Involvement Community of Practice in Wales and beyond.

How we do it

Our Youth Advisory Group consists of young people with lived experience of mental health difficulties aged between 14 and 25.

The group meets once a month to discuss research projects, undertake training and co-produce content to support the Centre’s activities and engagement events.

We are committed to fostering reciprocal relationships with our young people, frequently seeking feedback on the opportunities and experiences they would like us to offer.

These are wide ranging and include for example, access to senior academic staff for career advice, providing references for job applications, as well as CV building skills such as public speaking and blog writing.

Once our members reach the age of 26, they are invited to join our Advisory Group Graduate community where they continue to participate in the Centre’s activities through a range of mentoring, peer support and board membership opportunities.

In line with National Institute Health and Care Research good practice, the Wolfson Centre pays our Advisors for their time and cover costs associated with in-person sessions.

Apply now

Complete this short online application form to register your interest in joining our Youth Advisory Group.

Contact us

If you have any queries about our public involvement work or the Youth Advisory Group, please get in touch.