Read our update on the delivery of the HRA Community Survey 2024 two-year action plan. It sets out what we committed to do, the progress made so far, and what will happen next. Each action is mapped to our Action Plan Framework:
Engage
- speak – streamline communications and ensure we welcome, support and recognise you
- listen – put in place ways for you to tell us what you think and show how this informs our work
- community – support opportunities for you to meet, share and engage with each other
Support
- attractive – provide accessible information about opportunities and benefits
- achievable – understand your experiences so the role is manageable
- accessible – ensure everyone can engage without disadvantage
Recognise
- champion – publicly acknowledge your role in what we achieve
- thank – thank you personally and recognise what you contribute
- involve – proactively seek your views to inform our work
The Community Committee monitors progress against the action plan.
Progress Updates
1. Continue to publish regular email newsletters tailored to you
Framework link: Engage – Speak
What we said we would do
Maintain or exceed 2023 levels of tailored e-mail newsletters (57 editions).
What we’ve done so far
In the past 12 months we published a wide range of newsletters tailored to different parts of our Community:
- HRA Latest – 12 editions
- HRA Now – 13 editions
- REC Member Information Exchange and REC communications – 20 editions
- learning update for members – 9 editions
- public involvement newsletters – 9 editions
- CAG communications – 6 editions
- clinical trials newsletter – 10 editions
- RSP newsletter – 1 edition
- re‑engagement emails – 8 editions
- data housekeeping emails – 8 editions
- Shared Commitment to Public Involvement – 2 editions
- strategy workshop updates – 13 editions
- Make it Public event information – 2 editions
Informed by audience insights and feedback, we refocused the public involvement newsletter, so it now serves public involvement professionals, while encouraging public contributors to subscribe to HRA Latest.
Status
Ongoing
2. Make it easier for you to give feedback, and report how we have acted on it
Framework link: Engage – Listen
What we said we would do
Review how we collect use and respond to Community feedback.
What we’ve done so far
We mapped all feedback routes across the HRA and insights are captured, analysed and used to improve our work.
This informed a report reviewed by the Community Committee at their November 2025 meeting, who provided assurance, guidance and advice on improvements.
Next steps will be developed with our staff Community Group to identify action to improve your experiences with us.
Status
Open
3. Include Community feedback in our established HRA user satisfaction report
Framework link: Recognise – Involve
What we said we would do
Embed Community feedback into the six-monthly user satisfaction report.
What we’ve done so far
Community specific feedback is now included in the twice-yearly report and considered in organisational discussions.
Status
Complete
4. Use our voice to help more people understand your work at the HRA and why it matters
Framework link: Engage – Speak; Recognise – Champion
What we said we would do
Publish at least 12 stories each year highlighting the HRA’s work and impact.
What we’ve done so far
We have published a wide range of stories, blogs and interviews, including features celebrating Community members and explaining the HRA’s role in key sector developments such as AI regulation, research transparency and information governance.
We have also tested new formats, including webinars, social media carousels and Q&As, with strong engagement.
More interviews and blogs are scheduled for publication, including pieces on new CAG leadership and the perspective of a young newer REC member.
Examples
- How being a REC member works alongside my career
- Blog: From application to approval: an insight into reviewing and approving life-saving cervical screening research
- I was a REC member for 38 years: an interview with Dr John Bull
- Blog: Celebrating 10 years of being a Research Ethics Committee member
- My first year as a REC member: an interview with Yinka Cole
- Reflections on 30 years of protecting patient data
Status
Ongoing
5. Review and update our online ways of working resource
Framework link: Support – Attractive / Accessible
What we said we would do
Review the resource annually to ensure it remains up to date and effective.
What we’ve done so far
We have designed a survey to support the next review, including questions to test whether the resource continues to meet its objectives or whether an alternative approach is needed. This will be embedded in the page so that we get ongoing feedback on the resource as people use it to inform our approach. We will also gather feedback from how it is practically used throughout our activities.
Status
Ongoing.
6. Repeat the HRA Community Survey in 2026
Framework link: Recognise – Involve; Support – Achievable
What we said we would do
Run the next survey in early 2026.
What we’ve done so far
The 2026 survey is being developed as the first to capture UK wide insights, working with colleagues from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The survey has been built and user tested, with final revisions underway ahead of a planned February 2026 launch.
The findings will help us better understand the impact of the actions that we are taking and inform our next steps to ensure that you have a good experience with us.
Status
Ongoing.
7. Continue listening and improving opportunities to connect
Framework link: Engage – Listen / Community
What we said we would do
Regularly review Community feedback through the staff Community Group.
What we’ve done so far
Feedback is now a standing agenda item at Community Group meetings. The Group has also overseen discovery work on feedback routes, shared with the Community Committee. Insights are being used to inform further improvements to how we listen and respond.
Status
Ongoing.
8. Use demographic insights to reach underrepresented groups and adapt how we work and communicate
Framework link: Support – Accessible / Attractive; Engage – Community
What we said we would do
Hold a workshop and join networks to meet with individuals, groups and communities that we are not already working with. Informed by these activities, we will identify changes to how we talk about what we do and why it matters and the ways that we work so more people can choose to be involved.
What we’ve done so far
Based on demographic monitoring, we identified the need for better representation among:
- younger people
- Black community members
We have:
- held a focus group with the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN).
- held a focus group with young people aged 15–18 through Greater Manchester Young People Advisory Research Group (YPAG).
- begun reaching out to national umbrella groups to strengthen partnerships and visibility
These insights are feeding into work under the new HRA strategy to increase our visibility, accessibility and appeal.
Status
Ongoing.
9. Explore how best to show the value of your contribution to employers
Framework link: Recognise – Champion / Thank
What we said we would do
Explore improved ways for volunteers to demonstrate the value of their contribution to employers.
What we’ve done so far
We explored whether it would be possible to produce tailored letters for volunteers showing the contribution they have made. We have paused this work as we update our digital systems. In the meantime, staff can provide personalised letters recognising an individual’s contribution where needed.
Status
On hold.
10. Say thank you and show the difference you make
Framework link: Recognise – Thank / Champion
What we said we would do
Ensure our appreciation and the difference your contribution makes are visible in our interactions.
What we’ve done so far
We have published a large number of stories that celebrate volunteer contributions, many led by the Public Involvement team as part of the “What difference is public involvement making?” series.
These include stories about involvement in developing guidance, events, transparency work, and recruitment processes.
Status
Ongoing.
11. Involve you in developing the new HRA Strategy (2025–2028)
Framework link: Recognise – Involve; Support – Attractive
What we said we would do
Involve the HRA Community in shaping the new strategy.
What we’ve done so far
Community members contributed through workshops, surveys, committee discussions, project boards, writing groups, launch events and feedback on implementation plans.
Here are some links to two blogs about the development of our HRA Strategy:
- How different perspectives and experiences have shaped our 2025-28 strategy
- HRA strategy: you said, we did
Status
Complete.
12. Continue to run the Community Committee and monitor progress
Framework link: Engage – Community / Listen
What we said we would do
Ensure the HRA Community Committee meets every quarter and monitors delivery of this action plan.
What we’ve done so far
The Community Committee meets every quarter and provides advice to the HRA Board. The Board reviewed our progress against this action plan at its meeting on 10 November.
Status
Open.