Context:
The PPI Ignite Network delivers public and patient involvement (PPI) training and support, enabling researchers to conduct research with communities. To date, the main focus of these activities has been within Universities. A sub-group of the Network’s Public Advisory Board identified the development of a PPI Contributor mentorship programme as a key component to enable all communities to build enduring PPI partnerships with researchers, building new and supporting existing PPI communities of practice.
Why:
A bad PPI experience, in a vacuum with no support structures, can mark the end of a person’s PPI involvement. This programme is designed to broaden and support the PPI Contributor base and build capacity. PPI – Your Voice in Research, targeting marginalised communities, will support them to have an impactful voice in research. A PPI Mentorship programme targeting experienced PPI contributors from diverse backgrounds, will create a pool of PPI mentors to support and guide new and existing PPI contributors across the PPI Ignite Network.
How:
Building on the extensive PPI contributor expertise within the Network, a mentoring programme will be developed and delivered, inspired by the Public Advisory Board sub-group’s analysis of the HRB interim review report. An openly-available mentoring program, the design of which will evolve through a pilot phase, will be piloted and evaluated by experienced PPI collaborators including the D1 Now Young Adult Panel, who have separately identified a need for mentorship training . The Mentoring programme will then be delivered to experienced PPI Contributors.
The trained mentors will be paired with mentees, mainly from those who have come through Your Voice in Research. The mentors will support their development, while at the same time being supported in their own growth into their new roles. This mentoring programme will bring about a step-change in approaches to PPI in Ireland.