This is a reflection from Sarah Carter, a member of staff from Leicestershire County Council.
My activities included an introductory day at RAFA, conducting grey literature searches, reviewing literature using Covidence (a literature review software tool), and learning about qualitative transcript coding. I developed practical skills in identifying, appraising and applying relevant evidence. These experiences increased my knowledge of how high-quality evidence is generated, translated, and applied to inform policy and practice.
Exploring sample ethics applications and guidance from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Research Ethics Committee increased my understanding of research governance and the important role ethics plays in research. It highlighted the need to protect participants and reinforced the importance of considering ethical issues from the very beginning of any research project or decision-making process. As a result, I am now more confident in identifying and addressing ethical considerations at an earlier stage when supporting engagement, consultation, and research activities.
Attending a Wellbeing Centre veterans’ drop-in session and a RAFA focus group provided valuable and practical insight into early and meaningful stakeholder involvement. I learned that creating accessible and trusted opportunities for people to share their experiences, along with clear purpose and direction gives structure and value. The experience also improved my ability to identify groups whose views may be missing and showed me how engagement approaches can be adapted to ensure a wider range of perspectives is heard.
What this experience taught me
A key impact on my Council role will be the application of these learning experiences to design and deliver community engagement and consultation activities. For example, when planning consultations with veterans, carers, volunteers or other community groups, I will be better equipped to use evidence to shape more effective questions, identify and address barriers to participation, and ensure that findings are analysed, interpreted and used effectively for meaningful action.
Overall, this placement has helped me view research as a connected and iterative cycle. It has strengthened my confidence in taking an evidence-informed approach to engagement, partnership working, strategy development and service improvement, helping to ensure that activities are better aligned with the needs and experiences of the communities they serve.
A reflection from Loughborough University host colleagues
This work has not only benefitted Sarah but has also had a positive impact on the team she worked with during her placement.
Dr Kristen Clements and Dr Daniel Ogden (Loughborough University) noted that Sarah's contribution has extended beyond her individual learning and development. Her work in scoping the regional landscape of services and support available to veterans has provided valuable insight into existing provision, gaps, and opportunities across the region. This work directly informed the development of a recent NIHR funding application focused on improving support for female veterans, helping to strengthen the case for need, partnership working and future implementation pathways.
The placement has also strengthened the relationship between Loughborough University and Leicestershire County Council, creating new opportunities for collaboration around veterans' health and wellbeing. Through Sarah's engagement with the project, we have developed a stronger understanding of shared priorities and complementary expertise, and we look forward to continuing to work together to generate evidence that supports veterans and informs local services and policy.
Furthermore, Sarah has made a valuable contribution to our ongoing wellbeing tool project, conducting grey literature searching to identify existing sources of provision and signposting for wellbeing support within the RAF and supporting communities. This work has directly benefited project stakeholders through providing insights that helped aide the mapping procedures undertaken within the project.
* Public Health Grassroots Award to the Introduction to public health research - training and development award.