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Get in touch about your plans or research project.
We believe Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is absolutely vital to make sure the right things are being studied in the right way. The cleft community agrees; according to CLAPA’s 2023 Survey, 95% agreed it was ‘important for cleft researchers to get feedback about their projects from people affected by cleft’.
CLAPA can support your PPI efforts and work with you to make your study more accessible to the cleft community. We offer a Consultancy Service where researchers and NHS Cleft Teams can pick from a range of support packages, or create your own bespoke package to fit your needs. For those without funding for this work, we offer a bursary to ensure you can still get the support you need.
CLAPA’s Consultancy Services
CLAPA can support your PPI efforts and work with you to make your study more accessible to the cleft community. We offer a Consultancy Service where researchers and NHS Cleft Teams can pick from a range of support packages, or create your own bespoke package to fit your needs. For those without funding for this work, we offer a bursary to ensure you can still get the support you need.
You can read a summary of the packages available for researchers or NHS Services below or download the Information Pack for full details.
If you have any questions, please contact Gillian McCarthy, CLAPA External Engagement Coordinator, at [email protected].
Download the Information Pack
Our information pack has full details on how our consultancy service works, including the packages available and how to apply for a bursary.
Why choose CLAPA?
CLAPA has over 40 years of experience in empowering the cleft community use their voices to impact on the future of cleft care. We have direct access to a large community of patients, parents, carers, and other family members affected by cleft, including a large social media following and emailing list, several dedicated focus groups, and CLAPA Voices.
Thanks to our wide reach, independent status, and the skills and experience we have cultivated in-house, we are uniquely placed to support people wishing to work with the UK’s cleft community.
CLAPA have been invaluable in helping our research to reach the wider cleft community. Their enthusiastic support in sharing information about our research has contributed significantly to our research’s recruitment and I would hope that their consultancy will be able to help shape the research activity of my team and wider colleagues in the future.Researcher who used CLAPA's consultancy services
Packages for Researchers & NHS Services
Full details of each can be found in our Information Pack.
Advertising for patients to join a research study by reviewing the materials and promoting the study through our digital channels
Cost: £245
Setting up a Study Advisory Group to provide feedback on a research idea, including recruiting participants, reviewing all documents and facilitating a single meeting. Extra meetings are also available at an additional cost.
Cost: £490
CLAPA can put together a bespoke package to suit your needs. This work will be completed at the following rates:
- ½ day (minimum) £245
- Full day £490
We will organise, recruit for and facilitate a single online meeting. Setting up a Patient Engagement Group to provide feedback on a topic of your choice, including recruiting participants, reviewing all documents and facilitating a single meeting. Extra meetings are also available at an additional cost.
Cost: £490 (1 day)
As above, we will set up and manage a new PEG group for your NHS service for one year (max 3 meetings).
Cost: £2,2,450 (5 days) or £1,960 with CLAPA’s bursary subsidiary
To encourage new NHS Service PEGs, CLAPA is providing a bursary of £490 to subsidise the cost of setting up a new group.
A CLAPA representative will act as the voice of the cleft community in a single steering group meeting, Clinical Excellence Network meeting, or any other relevant meeting.
Cost: From £245
We can recruit a patient with relevant lived experience to sit on an interview panel when recruiting new staff
Cost: £245*
* Researchers/Services are responsible for paying the PPI representatives for their time (if appropriate) and any out of pocket expenses such as travel.
CLAPA can put together a bespoke package to suit your needs. This work will be completed at the following rates:
- ½ day (minimum) £245
- Full day £490
Bursary
The CLAPA PPI Bursary has been set up to support researchers and clinicians working within cleft research and NHS Cleft Teams who wish to increase and improve their PPI.
Applicants who are unable to access funds elsewhere can apply for a bursary of up to £490 worth of support from CLAPA’s Consultancy Service. If applicants are successful, the agreed bursary will entitle the recipient to receive PPI services from CLAPA up to the maximum value of £490 only. The bursary is not redeemable for cash.
Who is eligible?
- An undergraduate or postgraduate student who has the support of a university and/or clinical team and a named supervisor. You will be asked to provide a supporting statement & signature.
- A researcher/clinician initiating a one-off project/a pilot study/initial PPI work that will lead to an external grant.
- Researchers looking to develop their research question and materials before applying for funding and seeking patients views on the research.
- Cleft Teams/NHS clinicians wishing to involve patients/patient representatives in service development.
To learn more and apply, see the information pack.
Interested in supporting this work? Apply to join the Bursary Panel to help CLAPA decide which projects we should support (COMING SOON).
Apply for a Bursary
Apply for a bursary for your research project.
Download Information Pack
Download the CLAPA Consultancy Fees and Bursary Information (PDF)
Share your research results with CLAPA
If you’ve finished your research project and would like to publicise the results, please contact our External Engagement Coordinator Gillian McCarthy at [email protected] to discuss this.
If we agree that we would like to share your research results, we will ask for:
- A link to or copy of the full research paper
- A one-page lay summary in plain English with all medical terms clearly defined
- A short video presenting your study (10 mins max)
If you have any concerns about the above, please let us know. We are happy to work around what you are able to share.