Research Is For Everyone
COMFORTABLE IN MY SKIN:
An immersive audio story about taking part in research, co-produced and voiced by people with lived experience.
‘Research Is For Everyone’ is a collection of creative and participatory resources to support public engagement with research. We delivered this project through a partnership with a Not-For-Profit Social Enterprise called Made By Mortals.
Every resource in ‘Research Is For Everyone’ has been co-produced with people with lived experience of eczema and research. They can be used for discussions around research and any health condition.
We hope the resources will help demystify research, so everyone and anyone can better understand the different ways they can get involved if they wish.
The resources are available below and are free to use. You can pick and choose whichever best fits your particular purpose.
We hope you enjoy listening to them.
This trailer showcases the free resource ‘Research is for Everyone’, created by a group of people with lived experience of eczema and research. ‘Research is for everyone’ uses audio story telling, song and insight audio clips to demystify what it’s like get involved in health research.’
Listening the the audio resources has already had an impact on people:
I feel “more confident to volunteer in things like research or clinical trials.”
“it made me feel there’s other people from backgrounds similar to mine struggling with the same/ similar problems and how it’s okay to have a rough day once in a while”
Summary of resources PDF:
The Summary of Resources PDF provides links to all of the ‘Research is for Everyone’ resources. It uses the fictional audio story ‘Comfortable In My Skin’ (in two parts, accompanied by a song), to show what it’s like to get involved in research and take part in clinical trials. Alongside the story, the PDF contains links to three insight audio clips which delve deeper into key topics. These include the different ways you can contribute to research, how clinical trials work, and the benefits of taking part.
Suggested Workshop Format PDF:
The ‘Suggested Workshop Format’ PDF outlines the format we have used for delivering workshops using the ‘Research is for Everyone’ resources, including optional discussion prompts.
Insights:
Insight audio clips have been produced from lived experience discussions. These delve deeper into key topics mentioned in the audio story ‘Comfortable in my Skin’. They can be used as stand-alone pieces or to support conversations around key themes highlighted in the fictional audio story.
Insight audio 1:
What are the different ways people can get involved in research?
Listen to people with lived experience explore the many ways people can contribute to health research. They talk about filling in surveys and sharing their experiences of health conditions. Some of them joined groups to help develop the research, and spread the word about research findings. Others talk about taking part in clinical trials.
Insight audio 2:
Why can’t I choose which treatment I get in a clinical trial?
Listen to people with experience of clinical trials explain why participants are put into groups. Researchers compare these groups to see whether a new treatment is any better than the standard treatment. Participants are put into groups randomly to make sure treatments are tested fairly. This makes the results trustworthy.
Insight audio 3:
What are the benefits of taking part in a clinical trial?
Listen to people with experience of research discuss how clinical trials can give hope and help people feel more in control of their condition. Clinical trials also provide new knowledge, and remove uncertainty about whether a new treatment is helpful. Having a wide range of people taking part in clinical trials makes the research findings relevant to more people, leading to better care for everyone.
Audio story – Comfortable in My Skin:
A fictional story of 2 parts: this audio piece explores how our fictional character finds and then takes part in research.
Part 1 of the fictional audio story:
Taking the first steps into research
In Part 1, you meet the fictional character in the audio story ‘Comfortable In My Skin’. They live with eczema. Using the internet, they find an opportunity to join a meeting with researchers to help design a research study. They discover that their voice matters, they’re not alone, and they can help make a real difference.
Part 2 of the fictional audio story:
Taking part in a clinical trial
In Part 2, the fictional character in the audio story ‘Comfortable In My Skin’ decides to join a clinical trial, trying and sticking to new routines. Through this experience, they gain confidence and feel more in control of their condition. They find that taking part in research can make a real and positive difference.
Audio of song:
I will feel free
The song ‘I will feel free’ voices the journey of someone living with a chronic health condition. The singer moves from feeling alone and struggling with their condition, to deciding to make a change (by engaging with research). This leads to them becoming more empowered and feeling comfortable in their own skin.
Links to other resources about research engagement and inclusion:
If you plan to use any of the resources in your own engagement activities and events, we’d be grateful if you could fill in this brief form so we can track how they’re being used: