Join the SoDA Community Advisory Group – East of England

Help shape research into social care, dementia and ageing

The Social Care, Dementia and Ageing (SoDA) research theme at the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England is looking for 5–8 people to join its Community Advisory Group.

Members will help shape research priorities and make sure research reflects people’s real experiences and needs.

The research covers social care, dementia, care homes, sight loss, multiple long-term conditions, and digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in social care.

Who can join?

The group is looking for people aged 18 or over with relevant lived experience. This includes people who use social care services, people living with dementia or sight loss, people with experience of care homes, and family or friendship carers.

Applicants should ideally live in the East of England. No previous experience of taking part in research is needed.

What’s involved?

• Online meetings approximately every three months, lasting up to two hours.
• Up to one hour of preparation before each meeting.
• Occasional opportunities to review research information, support funding applications or help make research more inclusive.
• The first meeting is expected to take place in early December 2026.

The group will continue until March 2031.

Closing date: Sunday 15 November 2026.

For further information, help completing the form or alternative formats, contact Gill or Alison on 07708 992691.

Application forms:

Download the SoDA Expression of Interest form (Word document)

Download the Easy Read accessible PDF application form.

Shaping Our Lives is supporting recruitment for this opportunity on behalf of the SoDA research team.