A total of 47 researchers and supporters from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) came together, in March, for a three-day residential grant writing and development retreat, jointly organised by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)'s Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey Sussex (ARC KSS) and Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex (CRN KSS).
The aim of the retreat was to give researchers, from across the region, the dedicated time to progress and develop their NIHR grant applications.
Hands-on support and advice from specialist advisors in the areas of co-production, costings, health economics, statistics, and Public and Community Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) was available along with mini-information sessions on:
- Clinical Research Network (CRN) Support in your grant
- Costing your application
- Fellowship – analysing your skills gaps
- Focus of funding schemes and writing styles
- Patient and Public Involvement – best practice resources
- Stakeholder engagement and mapping
ARC KSS Public Advisors, Michelle Gardener and Karin Webb were in attendance on the second day and were involved in delivering a mini-session on Patient and Public Involvement – best practice resources. Michelle and Karin then met with researchers to discuss their Public and Community Involvement and Engagement plans and plain English summaries.
Michelle said “It was a pleasure meeting and discussing PCIE with many of the researchers that attended the event. I have sent further networks and links to those researchers I agreed to provide wider information to inform their projects. I really hope it will be useful to them.”
Karin said: “I really enjoyed being part of the day and meeting up with researchers both whom I have worked with in the recent past and new researchers. It was lovely to meet in person and feel I had, in some small way, been of use.”
Initial feedback from the sessions highlighted how researchers enjoyed the protected time to work together on their applications and the opportunity to step away from everyday life to focus. They appreciated making connections with others, being surrounded by people who are positive about research, have experiences to share and value what researchers are doing.
Beth Flowers, ARC KSS Academy Manager, said:
“I appreciated meeting attendees from across the region in person to learn about their planned projects. The retreat really helped streamline opportunities for sharing guidance and advice, and I was pleased to see the collaborative atmosphere that the attendees brought to it. I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of their labours.”
Becky Dilley, CRN KSS Research Delivery Manager, said:
“'I was really delighted to come along and be part of one of the days of the retreat. I had lots of really useful and interesting conversations, and was able to spread the message about Clinical Research Network support to a wide range of researchers. It was an excellent opportunity to work with ARC colleagues to offer joined up advice, and to streamline conversations to make the most of the time available. I'm looking forward to hearing about successful grant applications!”
To find out more about future joint research events visit our websites:
