What a venue for our first CAG meeting!

Central library in Liverpool was the setting of our first Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting. We came together for the first time to discuss the aims of the project and looked at how we could engage the people of Liverpool in our research.

Our new CAG members are a great team. Initially we started with four members, two men and two women. Whilst they are the first to admit they are not teenagers; they have families and friends of all ages and are always full of great ideas on how to attract a wider audience.

Their ideas helped the team to work out the best direction to take next.

 A key part of our Public Engagement/ Patient Public Involvement work is our Community Action Group, (CAG). Recruited using local media and community links we now have four CAG members who represent life across Merseyside.

After our first CAG meeting in September 2018, we have a much clearer idea of how to move forward. Whilst we have started to fill the CAG, we need more members. For our research to have maximum impact we need a greater understanding of the local community we are working in.

The CAG meeting gave me some ideas about key groups to approach, avenues to explore further and how best to attract more young people.