Exhibition showcases health research volunteers and explores how people from all backgrounds can get involved
A photographic exhibition opening on International Clinical Trials Day 2022 is shining a light on the people from across the South West who have chosen to take part in health and social care research.
The exhibition, opening at Yeovil Library on Friday 20 May at 1pm, is the culmination of a project by Janine Valentine, Nurse Research Leader at Yeovil Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) 70@70 Senior Nurse Research Leader programme.
Supported by funding from the NIHR Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula (CRN SWP), the project aims to showcase the wide range of ways people can participate in research, and the many different motivations and experiences of those taking part.
Doing her best to hear from as diverse a range of people as possible, Janine carried out a series of recorded interviews with people who have volunteered for research, and each time professional photographer Len Copland captured portraits of the volunteers. The result is a powerful series of images and stories Janine hopes will inspire others to get involved.
She said: “Public participation is integral to research development and delivery. There are many opportunities for people to become involved in research, but lots of them are neither aware of them or feel able to put themselves forward to take part.
“Research needs to reflect the needs of our diverse population, yet there are many groups whose voices are seldom heard. There is recognition that individuals who might be considered vulnerable or more marginalised are often underserved.
“Hearing people’s stories has been both enriching and humbling. We all have our own story, and the range of experiences I heard from the individuals who have been generous enough to share them is an illustration of that.
“The accounts are rich and varied and offer examples of many different ways individuals might participate in research, as well as a wide range of motivations for doing so. The one thing they all had in common was that all were resoundingly positive about participation in research.”
Ian, one of the volunteers featured in the exhibition, decided to take part in a research study when he discovered he needed a hip replacement. He said: “Getting involved was a very positive experience, mostly as I felt as though I was part of something that could help a lot more people.
“Without furthering medical knowledge to improve treatments in future, nothing can progress.
“All I can say is that in my experience, if anyone is given the same opportunity I was given, they should grab it with both hands, because it has been such a benefit to me.”
To see the exhibition, visit the Wellbeing Zone, 1st floor, Yeovil Library, King George Street, BA20 1PY until 17th June. After that, it will be on tour at a range of venues across the South West, and will also be hosted on the Research Roadshow website developed by the NIHR CRN SWP and south west partner organisations: https://sites.google.com/nihr.ac.uk/swpresearchroadshow/home
To find out more about the ways you could get involved in research, visit: https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/trialblazers/
