This workshop will provide short input for group discussion. It will consider how nationally service users’ views can lead to the identification of a research topic and become the basis of a research project, exploring the complex issues that are involved in bringing about change nationally and locally, based on such research findings.

The focus of the project concerned was the relationship between receiving benefits and participating in research and other activities. It was carried out by Shaping Our Lives, a national user controlled organization. The workshop will examine both the complexities of initiating such user chosen research and of making change based on it, at the same time as ensuring that service users stay involved in the overall (often difficult) process.

• open up discussion about some of the issues/tensions that arise when there is an aspiration to take forward user controlled research and address its commitment to making change.
• share experience, highlight complexities and ways of addressing them, by focusing on ways in which service users may make their priorities known and the sensitive response this requires.
• support ways of thinking through and taking forward research which starts from the concerns of service users/consumers/public.

The MRC is a national organisation funded by the taxpayer. It promotes research in all areas of medical and related science. The MRC established the CLG in 2000 to: (1) advise the MRC Council on the public’s perspectives on research, policy and strategy, (2) advise on how to involve the public in particular activities, and (3) to suggest activities that would benefit from public involvement.

CLG members have been involved in a wide range of research initiatives, and have focused on the early stages of research activities of national interest, for example, a Review of Autism Research, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Group, MRC Draft Guidelines on Tissue Collection and BioBank UK. CLG members have carried out their work by attending committees, advisory groups and working groups, and responding to documents and briefings.

In this presentation, members of the CLG and MRC will critically examine the influence of the CLG in making specific contributions to MRC research in the earliest stages of both applied and basic, research. We shall explore the challenges of making an impact in a large and complex organisation, and will discuss recent initiatives to extend the influence of the CLG to peer review processes, local networks, and MRC strategic activities.

‘I like, I love’ is a research project that covers 6 European countries, looking for a new resource for people with learning difficulties around sexual health that is useful in all partner countries. This report from the researchers involved in the project will consider the professional involvement of people with learning difficulties. The report will address undertaking and implementing research with people with learning difficulties. Joyce Howarth will talk about the importance of people with learning difficulties being employed on the project. Sally Hillman will give her experience of being a researcher with learning difficulties. Kerrie Ford and Val Williams will talk about meeting all the partners in Mallorca and how Kerrie helped to decide on the way forward.

Issues for discussion will be:

• The importance and added value of including service users in research about sensitive topics.
• Methods for including service users in professional, mixed teams of researchers.
• Doing research in an inclusive way in Europe.