Celebrating our research volunteers
It’s Volunteers’ Week and we’re celebrating the important work people living with Parkinson’s are doing to drive forwards better treatments and a cure.
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At Parkinson’s UK we’re proud to be powered by people who live with and care about Parkinson’s. Our research programme looks the way it does because you have told us what you want from research — faster drug development, better clinical trials and more opportunities for patients to take part in and shape research.
Right now, our team of 300+ Research Volunteers is supporting us with everything from writing Progress Magazine, to co-producing a virtual, three day research conference for the whole Parkinson’s community, to helping us drive forward race equality in research — and in many other projects and initiatives.
This Volunteers’ Week we want to recognise and celebrate these brilliant people who bring their time, energy and talent to our work.
Let’s take a closer look at how volunteers are involved in research work at Parkinson’s UK and the impact they are making every day.
Making funding decisions
Our Lay Grant Reviewers and Lay review coordinators have been helping prioritise the research we fund for over 20 years now. The thousands of hours they spend reading funding applications and providing feedback to researchers help us identify the most promising research that will lead to meaningful outcomes for people with the condition.
Creating our Research Support Network
Volunteers have been at the heart of creating our Research Support Network (RSN) from the very beginning. The RSN now has over 5,000 members who are receiving research updates and opportunities weekly. And, it was volunteers who instigated and shaped the development of our Take Part Hub, an invaluable resource for people who wish to take part in studies. We continue to rely on volunteers to help us make the right decisions and set our future direction.
Sharing research in the community
Research Champions are the link between us, researchers and our local groups. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to reach as many members of the Parkinson’s community, and ensure everyone has access to good information about research and opportunities to take part. They play a key role in keeping the wider community informed and up to date.
Bringing the patient voice to research
Our Patient and Public Involvement volunteers work alongside researchers and companies to ensure research is shaped and driven by those who need it most. Because of your determination and commitment, together we’ve built a world-leading involvement programme, changing Parkinson’s research for the better.
Sparking research interest across the UK
Finally, our Research Interest Groups, now 11-strong and growing, work tirelessly to ensure high levels of research engagement across the UK. Their work in linking scientists to the Parkinson’s community, sharing news and opportunities, and delivering a wide ranging programme of research events, is bringing new audiences to research — an inspirational, people-powered movement.
Thank you!
To develop truly transformational new treatments, we need to involve people affected by Parkinson’s at every stage, from setting priorities for research to making decisions about the research projects we fund — thank you for being those people.
On behalf of everyone at Parkinson’s UK, happy Volunteers’ Week and thank you. It is a pleasure working with you and we hope you feel a valued, integral part of the team.
If you feel inspired to start volunteering yourself you can browse opportunities and roles on our website or contact us at rsn@parkinsons.org.uk to find out about volunteering with the research team.
