Participatory Research Network Hub

An overview of the participatory research projects undertaken by researchers from across the University, and their outputs. These projects were funded by Research England participatory research funding.

2023-2024 projects and outputs

Introductory video

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Research Ethics

The University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) and the Participatory Research Network (PRN@TUoS) have created a series of videos demonstrating the challenges and opportunities for conducting ethical research when using collaborative and participatory methods.

Videos: EDI in research ethics


Dr Jennifer Burr (School of Medicine and Population Health), Dr Kirsty Liddiard and Dr Sophie Phillips (School of Education)

image of front page of creative writing toolkit

The Participatory Researchers' Creative Writing Toolkit

A participatory research team made up of students, librarians and academics designed a toolkit sharing examples of creative writing activities for adoption in participation research workshops. The toolkit is an output from the Creative Library project, which used creative writing activities within workshops to collaboratively explore librarian and student perceptions of artificial intelligence.

Download the toolkit (PDF, 557KB)


Dr Andrew Cox (Information School) and Dr Vicky Grant (The University Library)

Introductory video

Community Researcher Toolkit Project

This toolkit offers guidance for academic researchers working with, or interested in working with, community researchers. It was developed through a series of creative workshops with academics and community researchers from diverse backgrounds.


Dr Kate Fryer and Dr Habiba Aminu (School of Medicine and Population Health)

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2022-2023 projects and outputs

Access folk
Access folk logo

Access Folk

The Access Folk project uses participatory research and action research methods to explore ways to increase and diversify participation in folk singing in England.

Access the the podcast, knowledge exchange report, PGR guide, and other outputs on the access folk website.


Professor Fay Hield, Dr Esbjorn Wettermark, Dr Kirsty Kay (Department of Music)

Patient and public involvement panel
Screenshot from PPI video

Enhancing public engagement with research: Mesothelioma Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel

Researchers co-produced a 3-minute video with the mesothelioma Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panel, documenting patient's experiences and insights in order to i) educate the wider public about the role patients/the public can play in research and ii) support wider engagement in PPI by highlighting examples of good practice.


Dr Bethany Taylor (School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery)

Image of people doing art, with text over it reading: right from the start I was made to feel welcome
Image from project's 'Playing with the light' Zine

Supporting adoptive parents through multi-arts creative practice

This participatory arts/research project, in collaboration with and , explored questions arising across sectors and practices related to adoptive families and their needs. The project gathered in-depth data on diverse experiences of participatory arts for parents of adopted children through a participatory model and developed and strengthened networks across organisations.


Dr Jessica Bradley (School of Education)

Cartoon visualisation of findings from workshop 3: calls to action
Artwork by Liam Callebout - contact@liamraphael.co.uk

Exploring and embedding PGR experiences of participatory research in TUoS research cultures

This project aimed to better understand what PGRs – across all faculties and departments in the University – need in relation to developing, co-designing and engaging in participatory research. It conducted virtual focus groups and collaborative analysis workshops exploring PGR experiences of participatory research inquiry and culture. The project culminated in a co-produced podcast, manifesto, artistic visualisations from the workshop and a journal article (forthcoming).

Download our PGR manifesto (PDF, 107KB)

Artistic visualisations from the workshops

Journal article forthcoming


Dr Kirsty Liddiard (School of Education); Dr Lauren White (Sheffield Methods Institute); Ankita Mishra (Psychology). 

tips for helping vision impaired patients

Exploring the experiences of acute hospital care for older people with vision impairment

The purpose of the study was to explore how to involve vision impaired older people in developing and piloting methods to explore their experiences in ways that were creative and inclusive to those with vision impairment.

The project created a number of graphics offering 'top tips' for health professionals and people living with vision impairment in supporting care in the hospital environment.


Dr Fiona Wilson and Dr Gemma Arblaster (School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery)

Graphic detailing findings from the project - brain health, what should we be researching?
Drawn by Graphic Change

Identifying research priorities in ethnic minority and socio-economically deprived communities and widening participation in research

This project aimed to place communities at the centre of research on dementia and respiratory disorders, as a step towards citizen control of the research agenda. Building on pre-existing relationships with local ethnic minority communities, researchers identified and trained Community Research Link Workers (CRLWs) from the Chinese and Roma communities to undertake patient and public involvement sessions within their communities.


Dr Kate Fryer (Medicine and Population Health)

Space for community to grow

This project investigated participative social research methods that co-produce knowledge aiming to stimulate effective local action on greenspace deprivation in ethnically diverse urban areas for reasons of public health and social justice.

Film forthcoming

Journal article forthcoming


Dr Bridget Snaith (Department of Landscape Architecture)

2021-2022 projects and outputs

Cartoon person looking at a sign that reads 'prioritising ppi involvement in palliative care'
Image by NiftyFox

Improving research involvement opportunities for people with palliative care needs

The project used creative methods to increase research involvement and participation opportunities for people with palliative care needs, their families and carers.


Dr Sarah Mitchell (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health)

A healthcare professional with a big heart
Humanising Healthcare Logo

Promoting participatory research in ethics applications with marginalised communities

University researchers worked in collaboration with researchers with learning disabilities and/or autism to promote, model and share a participatory approach to the writing of research ethics applications.


Dan Goodley (School of Education)

prn possibilities

Mapping participatory research at the University of Sheffield: Establishing legacies for best practice

This project aimed to map and share participatory research across all faculties at the University of Sheffield. As its legacy, it established an ongoing Participatory Research Network (PRN@TUoS). 

Participatory Research Network (PRN@TUoS)


Dr Kirsty Liddiard (School of Education)

Developing participatory research across the faculty of social sciences

Developing, sharing and showcasing participatory research expertise across the Faculty of Social Sciences

This Research England funded project aimed to document cross-disciplinary best practice of doing participatory research within the Faculty of Social Science. It drew on existing expertise and experience of those who have done participatory research internationally and within the UK. It culminated in a series of workshops and videos.


Professor Simon Rushton and Dr Juan Mario Diaz Arevalo (Faculty of Social Sciences)

Diversity and inclusion in early phase trials for new medical treatments

This project looked at the importance and barriers to having diverse participants in early phase trials for new medical treatments. Researchers conducted interviews with professionals involved in clinical trials, patients and public representatives.


Robin Chatters (Faculty of Health)

Bringing together academics interested in participatory research with children and young people

This project worked with colleagues across the university to create an online space showcasing innovative methods of participatory research with children and young people. It highlighted challenges and lessons learned. 


Dr Hannah Fairbrother (Faculty of Health); Hannah Raine (Faculty of Social Sciences); Dr Jill Thompson (Faculty of Health); Dr Katie Ellis (Faculty of Health)