ALPHA stands for Advice Leading to Public Health Advancement. It is an advisory group of young people aged 14-19 who live in the South Wales or Bristol areas. A full time Involving Young People Research Officer and a youth worker support the group to meet monthly for 3 hour sessions at Cardiff University and at an annual residential weekend. Please find the ALPHA meeting schedule for 2012 - ALPHA timetable.
Why seek ALPHA advice?
Training
The young people have undergone training relevant to the work they are asked to pursue. Training included sessions outlining public health, the research cycle, ethics procedures and reviewing materials, as well as developing knowledge of a range of quantitative and qualitative methods including focus groups/ interviews, systematic reviews, questionnaires and randomised control trials.
Experience
The young people have to date been involved in a range of projects with researchers from Cardiff, Bristol, and Swansea universities and the University of East London. These projects have covered topics such as the take up of free school meals, methods for teaching young people Personal and Sexual Education (PSE), youth homelessness, young people’s well being and interventions to support self- esteem. Within these projects, young people have piloted materials, tested questionnaires and interview schedules, developed research ideas, and suggested themes for analysis of data
Impact
DECIPHer have produced a logic model for researchers to appreciate the short, mid and long term impacts of involving ALPHA in their research project. In addition to direct input on individual projects, the young people of the ALPHA group have produced guidance for researchers on producing young person appropriate materials and represented the centre at a national conference. Members of the group have written about their involvement on national youth websites and youth television programming, as well as produced films on public health issues that have been uploaded on Youtube and covered by the BBC and Guardian and the EU youth health website. To view the film’s click on the links below:
How to access the group?
For DECIPHer research projects, including those adopted or affiliated by the Centre, please complete the request form and e-mail to Hayley Reed to access the group.or feel free to contact Hayley on 01443 879053 to discuss your project’s public involvement requirements.
For research projects at the bid stage or those not within the remit of DECIPHer, costings for the group should be incorporated into the research project bid. General ALPHA costings for a three hour session are given here however alternative time requirements can be provided for by contacting Hayley Reed.