News

My journey at the Citizen Panel Workshop # 2

Farheen Yameen

11th Aug 2025

Farheen reflects on her experience as a Citizen Panel member attending online at the second workshop held recently at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Edinburgh.

The series also includes contributions from Lidis (Citizen Panel Lead), Sarah and Steve.

My journey at the Citizen Panel Workshop # 2

At Workshop #2 we got together to talk about what it really means for research to be “public good.” We talked about our ideas and shared our opinions. We also talked about how involving the public can help create research that is open, fair, and includes everyone.

Our day began with a friendly greeting / introduction and a chance to hear different points of view from our colleagues and I felt thankful to be part of a group who is committed to making a difference, with sessions designed to promote reflection and ongoing development.

Increasing public participation was another major priority. We came up with some practical ideas like having regular citizen panels, creating feedback loops, and sharing ideas between researchers and the public but we also acknowledged some barriers like accessibility, digital exclusion, and making sure diverse voices are heard.

I felt that the focus on EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) was very important. Participation in the public spaces is only meaningful when it involves individuals from diverse backgrounds. This includes addressing issues such as language, knowledge about health care, and data system trust.

I took part in this workshop by contributing suggestions on how to better use data and gather participant stories, which encouraged conversations about leaving a legacy. During the discussion, the importance of clear communication and accessible platforms was highlighted. Reading aloud my thoughts during feedback sessions helped me refine them, and I appreciated the chance of evaluating readability using tools like the NHS Readability Tool.

Taking part in the UK LLC Citizen Panel has shown me that public contributors have more than a seat at the table. We have something valuable to say, from defining what “public good” means to shaping how data is used, our voices are needed.

I will suggest to anyone who is thinking of getting involved that your perspective matters. It’s not about being an expert. It’s about being heard.