​​Get involved in the work of the HRA: shape how we finalise and launch our new strategy

​The HRA protects participants and potential participants in health or social care research and promotes their interests. We do this by making it easier to do research that people can trust, which is also the title of our strategy!

​That strategy has guided our work for the last three years. Now we’re updating it. Our new strategy will set out what we are going to do over the next three years. This work started at the end of 2024 and you can read more about what we’ve achieved so far on the HRA website.

​We have already listened and learned from people, groups and organisations involved in and impacted by our work to identify:

• what we can do to make the biggest difference with the resources we have
• what we are not going to do, for example, where others are better placed to lead

This work has shaped an early working draft of our new strategy.

We’re now moving into the ‘agree and launch phase’ of our strategy project and need your support to help make sure it’s a success. We have decided what’s going into our strategy, but we need your help to fine-tune the words we use, and to launch it. So people that need to know can find out in ways that work for them.

What’s the activity?

​We are looking for 3 to 4 members of the public to support the next phase of our strategy project. You’ll help us with three tasks:

• ​helping us to make sure that the words we choose work for everyone
• ​launching the strategy, by supporting our planning for an online event to take place in July 2025
• ​designing and promoting the strategy, so people who need and want to, know we have launched it and understand what it means for them

​What will be involved?

• ​attending a briefing meeting with Eve Hart, Head of Communications and Kat Evans, Senior Public Involvement Officer, ahead of the first discussion group meeting
• ​a series of informal online discussion groups with HRA staff and members of Research Ethics Committees to take place in May, June and July 2025. The dates of the first of these discussion groups are listed below. Each group will be around 50 minutes long
• ​(optional) attending the virtual launch event for the new HRA strategy
• ​attending a meeting in August 2025 to exchange feedback on your involvement
• ​attending a meeting in November 2025, three months after the launch of the strategy, so that we can update you on the impact of the work we’ve done together​

All activities will take place online.

What is an informal discussion group?

​The next phase of our project is likely to be fast moving as we engage and involve a range of people before we agree and launch our strategy.

This means that our touchpoints are likely to be less formal than meetings you may have been invited to as part of other projects. We won’t share any documents or slides ahead of time, though you will know the discussion theme for each meeting.

Rather than sending you things to review in advance, in the early meetings, which will focus on the best wording to use as part of the final strategy, we will share things in the meeting and ask for your ‘gut reaction’. We may also use the time we have together for A / B testing, which means we’ll show you two different options and ask for your first impressions.

We will make sure that everyone who wants to has a voice as part of the discussion group, and will also make sure that we give you time to go away and reflect, providing feedback outside the discussion group, if this is your preferred way to be involved. If this is the case, we will always make you aware of any deadlines, which are likely to be short (days not weeks).

​What difference will it make and how will I know?

​By mid-July 2025 we will have launched our new strategy and will have a communications and engagement plan to promote it. Although you won’t be deciding the content of the strategy, your input will help guide the approach of the HRA’s communication and policy and engagement teams who promote and engage people with the strategy as part of their day to day work.

​We will listen carefully to your thoughts on our draft strategy and plans to share it.

​We won’t share notes after each session but in the next session we’ll verbally update you on where we’ve been able to act on your feedback and where we haven’t.

​We will invite you to be part of a ‘three months on’ update meeting in November 2025. Ahead of this session we’ll share what we know about how the strategy has been received so far, and the feedback we’ve seen and heard.

​What support will I receive?

​Our HRA Community Ways of Working sets out what you can expect when working with us, and our expectations for working together respectfully, inclusively and impactfully.

​Eve Hart will be your main point of contact for this activity. She will provide the information you need to contribute and will update you on the impact of your involvement. Kat Evans will provide practical support to facilitate your involvement.

​If you are invited to take part in this activity, we will ask you to share your access and support needs, and any requests for reasonable adjustments. We will keep this information confidential.

​What skills or experience do I need to take part?

​You don’t need specialist expertise about developing strategies, about events, or about communications and engagement. We would though like you to meet these criteria:

1. ​an understanding of the purpose of the HRA, its role as an arm’s length body of a government department and how this affects how we communicate
2. ​a working interest in the way that information is shared with different people, groups and organisations
3. ​confidence to bring a public perspective to a fast-moving workshop and experience of contributing constructively to discussions as part of a diverse range of people

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create stronger, more creative ways of working, that help us to achieve the ambitions in our strategy. ​We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, impairment, neurodiversity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse life experience such as being a carer, level of education, living in a deprived or rural area, and socio-economic background.

​How will you decide who will be involved?

​We will remove your name from your application and transcribe any recordings and videos we receive into text documents. Two members of HRA staff will consider your application against the criteria above. We will shortlist people who have met the criteria to join the group. If we receive many applications that meet the criteria, we will select at random.

​We will let you know whether you have been successful on 17 April 2025.

​Will I receive payment?

​In line with our payments policy, we can offer:

• ​£50 to prepare for being involved in this work by reading the documents that we send you and attending a short briefing meeting
• ​£100 - £150 for taking part in at least four and at most six informal discussion groups (£25 per meeting)
• ​£25 to attend the launch of our strategy so you can see first-hand the difference your involvement is making
• ​£50 for attending a meeting to exchange feedback on your involvement, to include preparation and reviewing notes
• ​£25 to attend an update meeting where we will share the impact of your work

​Will my expenses be covered?

​Yes. It is our policy to cover reasonable expenses, if agreed in advance. For example travel, additional childcare, or for a carer or personal assistant. We offer a £5 contribution towards any incidental expenses incurred by attending online meetings.​

When would I need to be available?

We will let you know on 17 April if we are able to invite you to be part of this work.

We have scheduled the briefing meeting and the informal discussion groups. We understand that things can change, but to be considered for this opportunity we would like you to be available for at least four of the six discussion groups.