Patient and parent involvement

All of the work carried out as part of the EATC4Children is inspired by and involves, our children, young people, and their families.

Sammy Ainsworth is the Young People and Family Research Co-ordinator for the EATC4Children. Her role is to involve parents and young people in the design and dissemination of research and healthcare. Sammy runs the young person research advisory group, Generation R and the Generation R Parents Research Group. As Patient and Family Research Co-ordinator, Sammy supports wide variety of clinicians in their research and brings families and parents together to ensure that their voice is at the heart of the EATC4C.

Generation R Liverpool

Generation R Liverpool is an advisory group for young people. It offers a platform where they can learn about and provide input on various aspects of paediatric research and clinical trials. This group assists researchers in enhancing the development and delivery of health research.

Established in 2006, Generation R Liverpool was the first of its kind in the country. Children and young people aged 10 and above can apply to join the group. By becoming a part of this lively and enthusiastic team, they can help to ensure that research is designed in the right way for families. The group holds monthly online meetings after school and college, along with four in-person training sessions during the year.

Generation R members are often invited to participate in interesting workshops, conferences and science events. The group is friendly, lively and varied. Any young person who might be interested in joining can reach out to the EATC4C coordinator, Sammy Ainsworth, via email at jenny.ainsworth@liverpool.ac.uk for an application form.

Generation R Parents group

The Generation R Parents group was established five years ago with the aim of involving parents and providing them the opportunity to be involved in the design of research. The group convene through virtual meetings and is made up of parents from all over the UK. The meetings are always varied, engaging and welcoming. The members come from different backgrounds- some parents have children with a chronic illness, while others have more general experience with the UK medical system. All views and ideas are welcome and always valued.

If you are interested in joining the group and learning more about paediatric research, please get in touch with Sammy Ainsworth, PPI Coordinator by email jenny.ainsworth@liverpool.ac.uk.

Back to: Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre for Children