Research in partnership with parents and young people ('PPI')

We believe that the best research should work in partnership with the people it is meant to represent and we have a number of approaches in how we work in partnership with parents and young people.

The initial conception of the study and its subsequent development have included parents who have taken part in the parenting programme and now sit on the Trial Management Group and Trial Steering Group, who meet several times a year. Furthermore, we have set up three Parent Advisory Groups (~30 parents) who help to shape the research process throughout the four year study as part of our Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) strategy.

Group discussions and other activities will be facilitated with the Parent Advisory Group 2-3 times a year to engage with these groups of parents. Parent Advisory Group members will be encouraged to contribute towards publications and outputs and to take advantage of training opportunities. This means that parents are at the very core of our research. We also have a dedicated PhD student who is focused on working with a group of young people of parents who have attended the parenting programme to explore how we might include their voices.

Transparent reporting of all PPI activities will continue throughout the Together study. We follow the INVOLVE guidance and continue to be reflective in how we work in partnership with parents and young people.