In this month’s blog we hear insights from a member of the Public Involvement Panel who is part of the Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) The artwork pictured was drawn by one of the panel members.
What is HDRC Surrey?
- HDRC Surrey aims to make Surrey a healthier place by strengthening how local government uses research to inform decisions that reflect community needs.
- We work on issues that impact health – like poverty, employment, housing and education.
- The collaboration brings together the University of Surrey, Surrey County Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and voluntary organisations (including Good Company Surrey and Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum) as well as our residents.
What is our Public Involvement Panel?
- We have two Public Involvement Panels, one in West Surrey and one in East Surrey.
- In East Surrey, we have a group of residents from different backgrounds who’ve been working together as part of our Panel since 2024.
- In East Surrey our panel have been working together on issues that they think are important to the local community, including being able to access emergency financial support.
Hearing from one of our Public Involvement Panel members:
What made you want to be part of the Public Involvement Panel?
I wanted to be able to tell my story and for others to not go through what I’ve gone through. So being part of the group, I’m hoping that change may happen so that my past experiences and the things that I’ve been through won’t happen to other people in the future.
What have you enjoyed about being part of the Public Involvement Panel?
I enjoy being part of a group. I spend a lot of time alone. So I like the connection. I find all topics relevant and that I personally have an opinion on or can relate to in some way. I also like the fact that at our meetings we do things in a variety of ways. For example: creative ways suit me. So I’ve drawn my answers before and then used that image to explain. The researchers always come up with innovative ways for us to have our discussions at each meeting, it’s always different. But ultimately I come away from the meeting thinking I’ve helped make a difference I’ve spoken up for people like me.
What are you hoping will change for people locally through this work?
That people won’t be struggling to get their voice heard, be stuck filling in multiple stressful forms etc, that people’s physical and mental health may improve if access to the right support financially when needed is there. That there will be support locally, and that struggling people are no longer treated like a number. That the system will be more humanised and caring and non-judgmental. And that in the future there will be more of this kind of work around speaking to the people that big decisions are made about and asking them what would help. More decisions made from the bottom up, so basically more “co production”. Which I think ultimately saves money as then there’s not failed new ventures that cost wasted money but successful ones that came from the people that they directly affect.
What has being part of the project meant for you?
It’s nice being part of a group with a common purpose and has made me feel that actually my voice does matter. Although personally my life is very different to how it used to be and is difficult physically and mentally, it’s given me an outlet to explain.
And it makes me feel that I do matter and others like me matter too!! I feel like my voice is heard.
The biggest thing to me is that I’m hoping that my past experiences and the things that I’ve been through and still go through, won’t happen to other people in the future.
How can you get involved?
If you want to know more about participation and research activities at Good Company, you can contact us via email: voice@goodcompany.org.uk
If you would like to know more about HDRC Surrey you can visit the website: https://surrey.hdrc.uk/public-involvement
And if you would like to get involved you can register at: https://surrey.hdrc.uk/public-involvement/get-involved
