Table 2 Reflections from public contributors from the online survey

1

Please describe how, if at all, you have made a contribution to the project personally

I have tried to give my thoughts on experiences of a past Quality Award Scheme from my previous profession and combine hopefully with new proactive ideas gained from many years of [PPI] experience in research

As a member of the task and finish group, I felt I played a part in producing the training package using my 10 years [PPI] experience

I used my lived experience to help lead conversations along with my knowledge of the [Expert Citizens] systems

Being able to give views about what was discussed. And some of the things spoken about taken on board

I would have liked to have been more involved from the start as initially I felt unprepared and lacking knowledge in the process

I was able to bring my lived experience of mental issues and knowledge of the VCSE [Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise] sector to the meetings I attended

Giving context, explanations and examples in the task and finish group and also contributing to the wording

2

What, if anything, have you learnt from your experience of being involved in the project?

A much greater knowledge of the wider and excellent community work in [PPI] in our region and in different health care settings. To understand how best practise can be shared to improve all [PPI] standards

How we can motivate and educate by recognising quality of good practise many great examples of community work in healthcare practise

Good team working

How different it needed to be for health and research

Being part of a project that you helped with and seeing it from start to finish

Learning as the project progressed was welcome although I felt lack of knowledge at the beginning held me back

I have learnt that there is a wealth of human resources in our community—committed to and passionate about improvement and change

How adaptable the standards are. Also learnt about the public involvement both at Keele and UHNM [University Hospitals of North Midlands] within different departments

3

Please use this space to explain any of your answers further or provide any other comments about your experience of being involved with the project?

This has been a steep but enlightening and rewarding learning curve for many working in different healthcare settings to firstly be made aware of the breadth of [PPI] work being carried out within the community then seeing how great examples of best practise can benefit everyone. At times the work has been challenging to consider ways and how we consider standards against our present working patterns but with great energy and fantastic ideas it is exciting to see a pilot Award scheme in its final stage. It’s been a great team effort and a great example of co- production

If this can really take off, it would help with NIHR reviews if researchers belong to an organisation which has been evaluated

Just being involved and seeing the project grow was so rewarding. Plus all the hard work of everyone involved. And how people were listened to

I felt detached initially and would have liked more information regarding background to the project. I found the separate meeting with Expert Citizens provided me with a clearer understanding of the fundamental requirements

Would like to see how this project works in practice and all the learning embedded in the next phase