Award Winning Partnership

Public Involvement in Education and Research (PIER)

Bringing together people with experience of health and social care with academics and practitioners to improve outcomes across the UK.

Learn more about us Get involved in education Get involved in research
Our Partners We work with a range of organisation to create positive change
Shelter Logo
The Latern Trust Logo
Access to Food Partnership Logo
Beaf Logo
Homewards Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Logo
The Bourne Academy Logo
Beyond Relections Logo
Help and Care logo
The Health Bus Logo
Involving People Logo
MacMillan Cancer Support Logo
National Institute for Health Research Logo
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust logo
WCA Logo
Wessex Cancer Support Logo
Trans Aware Cancer Care Logo
#helpandkindness
Community Action Network Logo
Community Research and Engagement Network Logo

Who are we

Meet our Members & Community

We are a group of people who have used a wide range of health and social care services, or who are carers for family members or friends. This allows us to bring a unique perspective of these services, having experienced them first-hand.

This enables us to enhance the education and subsequent practice of the future workforce in health and social care and improve the relevance and quality of health and social care research.

Meet our members
Our Involvement

Our Involvement in Education and Research

Each year, PIER typically coordinates over 100 educational activities and supports over 70 people with lived experience to be involved in research.

Scroll across to explore our activity in education and innovations in research.
View all innovations in education View all innovations in research
Research

BU PIER Lead Role on Research Inclusion for ARC Wessex

Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex
Education

Paramedic science – simulation activity 

PIER members support paramedic students developing patient assessment and communication skills.
Stuart
Anne
Research

"I truly think partnering up is for the better for all of us and more importantly the communities we support."

Dorset Community Research Engagement Network (CREN)
Education

Social work: Redesigning children’s social care

Discovering what ‘the ideal social worker’ looks like.
Team member
Debbie
Research

"People's stories should shape the systems designed to support"

Dorset REN – I Am More Than … A community named project
Education

Pharmacology & Medicines Management 

PIER members share medication experiences, helping nursing students understand real-world challenges.
Debbie
Rosie Martin
Cathy Beresford
Research

"Builds capacity and confidence within communities and supports greater equity"

Trans Aware Cancer Care – Community Research Trans+ Project
Research

63% of adults and 47% of children are not accessing dental services In Dorset

Oral Health Project
Stay updated

Want to get involved?

All involvement starts with a conversation, and we can arrange a call or an informal meeting to talk through how you might want to get involved.

Get in touch
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