FAQs

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section, designed to support Fuse public partners. Here, you will find answers to common questions about Fuse's work, your role as a Fuse public partner, and how we can work together. If you need further assistance or have a question not covered here, please do not hesitate to contact Ella Anderson, Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Manager: eleanor.anderson@ncl.ac.uk. These questions have been developed with Fuse public partners.

About Fuse

What is Fuse?
Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, brings together the six North East and North Cumbria Universities of Durham, Newcastle, Cumbria, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside in a unique collaboration to deliver world-class public health research to improve health and wellbeing and tackle inequalities. Fuse is also a founding member of the NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR).

To deliver high quality public health research, we need to make sure that the public’s voice is being heard across Fuse.

What is public health research?
Through scientific knowledge and evidence, public health research explores and evaluates interventions that can impact on health. Public health is about helping groups of people to be healthier so we live better, longer lives. It looks to improve the health and wellbeing of the public and reduce inequalities in health. Public health research covers a huge range of themes including healthy weight, substance (alcohol, tobacco and drug) use, infant feeding, universal credit, food insecurity, mental health, and much, much more.

What is Public Involvement and Engagement?
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) have a great definition for public involvement and engagement, which works well for Fuse. We define public involvement and engagement in public health research as “research being carried out ‘with’ or ‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’, ‘about’ or ‘for’ them. This includes, for example, working with research funders to prioritise research, offering advice as members of a project steering group, commenting on and developing research materials, undertaking interviews with research participants.” Public involvement and engagement is an active partnership between patients, public and researchers to shape research.

People who help with public involvement and engagement in Fuse are known as public partners.

Why is public involvement and engagement important to Fuse?
Fuse values public involvement and engagement as a vital part of our mission to get high quality research into the world to improve people's health.‌ The public voice influences our work by helping us to prioritise our areas of research, how we deliver our research, how we interpret our results and how we share our findings.

Your role as a public partner

Why do people get involved in public health research?
There are many reasons why people getting involved in research:

To make a difference to public health research.
Help make research more relevant, useful and beneficial to everyone in society.
Help improve the way health and social care is provided in the future.
Some people have experienced challenges first-hand and by getting involved in research can share these experiences so that people can learn from this.
To make sure all voices are heard in public health research, including people from under-served groups and communities.
To ‘give something back’.
To share first-hand expertise and knowledge.

Who can get involved in Fuse research as a public partner?
A public partner is someone who helps Fuse in their mission to deliver world-class public health research by sharing valuable experience, insights and feedback. Public partners may be considered Experts by Experience and have personal, lived experience of using services as a direct service-user or as a carer or as a family member. You might have lived experience of certain health conditions or challenges, for example. Perhaps you are part of a community who researchers would like to find out more about. Your knowledge and experience is valued and helps paint a clearer picture of public health today.

By ‘public’ we mean patients, potential patients, carers and people who use health and social care services as well as people from organisations that represent people who use services or members of a particular community. We welcome members of the public, service users, carers, patients, families and local community groups to get involved in our research activities. You don’t need any specific knowledge or previous experience, just an interest in public health research and some time to commit to sharing your thoughts and ideas with us.

When you join Fuse as a public partner, you will become part of the online Fuse Public Partner Network, where you can meet other public partners.

Do I need any specific qualifications or experience?
You do not need a qualification to be involved in public health research. You may have experience and skills from other areas of your life that will be valuable to researchers. This might include working, volunteering or family life. Your lived experience and knowledge, perhaps of certain health conditions, is what counts. You may find that your experience may be more relevant to some research projects or opportunities than others – and that is totally fine. We want you to be able to identify projects that are of interest to you.

What kind of opportunities can I expect?
We have opportunities for members of the public, service users, carers, patients, families and local communities to get involved in our research activities. This might include:

Sharing your ideas at meetings
Contributing to projects, e.g. advising on the best ways to contact people and collect information
Support in developing research funding proposals
Communications, e.g. research briefs, newsletters, blog posts, webpages
Reviewing materials, e.g. flyers/posters/infographics
Advising on research themes and programmes
Event planning and organising
Taking part on interview panels
….and lots more!

How long is this role for?
There is no time limit to the role. You can opt out (and back in!) at any time but we do ask that you drop us a note to let us know. You don’t need to give a reason if you do not want to.

How much time or commitment will be expected of me?
This will very much depend on the piece of work or project you choose to be involved in and we will try to provide as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision. It may vary from 30 minutes to a few years!

How will opportunities be shared with me?
Opportunities are typically shared by Ella Anderson, Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Manager, via email. However, if you prefer to receive opportunities in a different format, please let us know.

How often will I receive communication from Fuse?
We will share opportunities as and when they become available. Sometime there may be a few in a week, sometimes it may be quieter. You will also receive the monthly inFuse newsletter, as well as occasional emails to flag useful information or news which may be of interest to you. Your contact details are not shared with other parties without permission.

Reward, recognition, support and training

Will I receive any reward, recognition and expenses for my involvement?
Yes. We follow the NIHR Payment Guidance and recommend that our researchers do the same. Expenses are in line with Newcastle University Travel and Expenses Policy.

Will I receive any support or training?
When you join Fuse as a public partner we will have a friendly one-to-one chat to say hello. This will help us to get to know one another and is an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. It is also an opportunity to identify any training, support or accessibility requirements you may have. You may already have a sense of where you might benefit from some additional training and support – if so, please let us know so we can support you as best we can. Maybe you would like to see how you get on with your role, and identify training opportunities as you go along. This is perfectly fine too.

We are happy to guide you through using platforms/tools such as Zoom and Teams…if we don’t know the answer to a techy question we can find out for you! In the meantime, the Involvement Hub includes a variety of resources for engagement. These resources have been produced by NHS England and are free to access.

Can I attend Fuse events?
Yes. We welcome public partners at Fuse events. These are a great opportunity to hear about exciting public health research. Where appropriate, we welcome ‘experts by experience’ to speak at events. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved.

Contacts and further information

Can someone help me with things like paperwork (e.g. printing papers, filling in forms) or travel arrangements?
Yes, we can help. Please get in touch and we can have a chat about how we can best support you.

Who should I get in touch with if I have any questions?
To get in touch or find out more email Ella Anderson eleanor.anderson@ncl.ac.uk or info@fuse.ac.uk.

Can I invite family and friends to join the Fuse Public partner Network?
Yes. Please encourage folk to complete this short form or email Ella directly on eleanor.anderson@ncl.ac.uk.

Is there a code of conduct?
Yes. We share a short, simple code of conduct that is based on respect and kindness. Healthy debate is expected but kindness is essential. We are a small, welcoming and inclusive group and we want this to be a safe space for our members.

Are there any other useful documents about public involvement and engagement I should take a look at?
This guide is a long but helpful read: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/public-information-pack-pip-how-to-get-involved-in-nhs-public-health-and-social-care-research/27388

Documents and links we will share with you (in addition to these FAQs) when you join the Fuse Public Partner Network:

Fuse Public Partner Network flyer
Fuse Reward and Recognition Guidance
Fuse Code of Conduct
Links to ‘Public Health and Me’ podcast - available on streaming platforms including Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music
A copy of our latest inFuse Newsletter

This information has been prepared by Ella Anderson, Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Manager, with input from Fuse Public Partners and the Fuse Public Involvement and Engagement Group. If you think that anything is missing from the FAQs or you have any comments on it, please email eleanor.anderson@ncl.ac.uk.