Queer.All.Year supports nationwide research for NHS

Between December 2023 and February 2024 we had a unique opportunity as Queer.All.Year to take part in a piece of nationwide research for the NHS all about ‘Raising Voices in Research’. 

Following the sessions, we caught up with three of our participants about their experiences.

CP: Thank you so much for being part of the research sessions, it was really a pleasure to have you all involved in our first foray into research and trying to make health research more inclusive of queer voices just like your own.

We had loads of people sign up to be part of the project when we first put a call out for participants, I’m interested in what made you sign up to be part of the project?

GB: As a queer disabled person, I feel like I’m on the outside of society and question my worth. To be able to give my opinion and potentially make a difference is really important.

FM: I was really interested in being part of a project with the aim of making a difference and helping things be more inclusive as that’s really important to me.

CP: I think that’s really interesting, and definitely something that came out of our research as well that people really wanted to know that if they were going to be involved in research their contributions would make a difference.

Most of our participants didn’t know each other coming into the sessions, and I always think that’s sometimes the hardest thing coming into new spaces. How did you feel about coming into the first session?

LK: I was a bit nervous before coming to the first session because I'd never taken part in a research study aimed at queer people before... but by the time the session was over I felt completely at ease and comfortable. I felt that I could share my thoughts and opinions easily, I felt heard by the other participants and it was so interesting and insightful to hear other people's thoughts and experiences.

GB: I was very anxious as there would be people I didn’t know. However, it was very relaxed and welcoming once I was there.

CP: That’s definitely fair and probably so many people’s experience of coming into new spaces and especially for a brand new activity as well that people hadn’t seen us do before, but really great that folks felt really relaxed and comfortable once we got started.

At our second session at Aspex when we started to look at HIV campaigns, we were joined by Jane Shepherd who has been a HIV campaigner for a number of years. What did you think about being able to discuss HIV campaigns with a HIV campaigner?

GB: HIV and AIDS is an issue very close to me, so to hear the plans for the future was great. Also to meet the campaigner was very interesting and emotive.

LK: I thought this was an amazing workshop and to actually have someone in the room with us who had the experience of being a veteran HIV campaigner was a great opportunity. It was great for us as participants to hear their lived experiences and to work with them on this project.

CP: And then when we got to the second set of workshops where we were working with the actual researchers from the University of Winchester. How did you find the experience of giving feedback to professional researchers on their projects?

LK: I will admit at first that I thought it would be quite daunting to have to give feedback to researchers who were actually in the room with us. However, after hearing other participants speak up about the feedback they had and how positive and receptive the researchers were to that feedback I immediately felt at ease. I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts, opinions and feedback with the researchers and openly discussing them with others.

GB: It was good. Because of my personality, I’m often petrified that people will just tell me to leave or that I’m too inappropriate but they accepted me the way I was and genuinely seemed to take on the things we said.

CP: And is there anything you’re taking away from the experience of being involved in the project?

FM: The friends made during the experience and the sense of comfort in discussing issues that matter to me and like-minded people.

GB: I’ve made new friends which is a bonus, but to feel like I’ve actually been listened to and maybe made a difference is a good feeling.

LK: I think I'm going to feel more confident, comfortable and able to share my thoughts and opinions when it comes to important discussions (like the ones we had in the research sessions). I also think I feel more confident with using my lived experience to help improve things for others.