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Surrey HDRC

The Cube in action: How HDRC Surrey is championing public voices in research

15th January 2026

Public involvement isn’t just a box to tick; it’s about making sure voices shape research in meaningful ways. And how do we know if public involvement in research is meaningful? By evaluating activities from both perspectives: ours as organisers and theirs as participants. HDRC Surrey explored this question in December 2025 by piloting The Cube Evaluation Framework with members of the East Surrey Public Involvement Panel to better understand participants views on how meaningful their participation has been.

The Cube is an innovative tool that gives participants the chance to reflect on their experience and share feedback on the quality of public involvement across four dimensions: Contribute, Voice, Agenda, and Change.

The Cube Evaluation Framework

What did we learn

Seven panel members took part in the session, and the results were encouraging:

  • Opportunities to contribute:
    Participants loved the variety of ways to get involved, from discussions to creative activities like collages and visual exercises. They described the group as safe, supportive, and welcoming.
  • Feeling heard:
    Participants felt respected and valued, praising the inclusive environment. They suggested adding feedback loops to show how ideas are used which is a great opportunity to strengthen trust.
  • Influence on the agenda:
    Participants said their suggestions matter. Requests for more creative sessions were acted on by facilitators, with discussions often evolving based on participant input.
  • Impact on HDRC change:
    Participants were optimistic that their contributions would lead to change but also recognised that change can take time. They wanted clear communication on how their input is shaping research priorities and leading to impact.

Why it matters

Public involvement is at the heart of HDRC’s mission to reduce health inequalities. Tools like The Cube help ensure that involvement is not just tokenistic but meaningful, inclusive, and impactful.

Next steps? HDRC Surrey plans to use the online Cube tool to visualise results and embed feedback loops so public contributors can see how their voices drive change.

Learn more about The Cube Evaluation Framework: The Online Cube Tool