Introducing the Parent Carer Research Network (PCRN)

We are very excited to announce that the Parent Carer Research Network (PCRN) is open to researchers to share their research and PPIE opportunities!

The Parent Carer Research Network was set up to champion the voices of parents and carers in children and young people’s mental health research.  You may already have plans to involve parents and carers in your research project or PPI, or you might want some guidance on where to start or how to do it better - either way the PCRN would love for you to be involved!

If you are a mental health or addiction researcher, you are able to send any opportunities to be reviewed and featured in the PCRN's next newsletter. The opportunities (research or PPI) must be targeted to parents or carers, and there are a few steps you'll need to carry out. They have also created a Guide for Researchers, containing important points to consider and a checklist summary of key reminders.

The network has been founded by parents with lived experience, the Charlie Waller Trust, and research teams at the Universities of Birmingham and Oxford. The PCRN is led by a steering group of parents and carers from diverse backgrounds from across the UK, and is funded by the Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre and the Charlie Waller Trust.

Overall, the PCRN is a useful way to establish collaborative relationships, incorporate lived experience to your research and develop safe, inclusive and accessible research. Working with the PCRN provides support in developing your project and exploring funding sources, support with your application to work with the network and resources on good practice e.g. advice around facilitation and communication with parents and carers.

If you would like your opportunity to be considered for the upcoming July Newsletter, please submit your application by midday (12pm) on Thursday 19 June.