Help
GenerationR Logo

Recent London YPAG meetings: Catch up time part 2

By London YPAG,

For our last meeting in February, Martin Lodemore came to the group from INVOLVE, seeking input on their payment and remuneration policy for involving children and young people in research. One thing the group stressed was the importance of having travel provided up-front for any meetings or involvement activities they take part in. Cost for travel can be a prohibitive factor for many young members (and their parents) in being involved in research, and we YPAGs try to remove any and all barriers to young people being involved, including financial. The London YPAG members agreed that remuneration is important as it acknowledges the contribution they make, and this could come in the form of vouchers, a meal, or a social activity.

We also had an artist in residence at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sofie Layton, return to the group with her Under the Microscope project, which is part funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Sofie first came to the group last year when she was starting up her project. Here’s what the young people had to say about her visit and her work:

“It’s progressed, she had ten months to do it and spent 3x the amount of time she was meant to on it. Collaborations helped her to see what an amazing world GOSH is. The research and the science paired with working with the beautiful children has made her work more meaningful. Her role was to act as a mediator and bring an artistic voice into the medical and patient experience. What extraordinary work it is.’