Need your help

Hi

I am the Health Promotion officer at Asthma UK and I also have asthma.

I read the posts on this forum pretty regularly as I think it is such a great way to keep in touch with what matters to people with asthma…and personally I find it really interesting and reassuring!

I am writing to let everyone on the forum know about a new opportunity for people with asthma and their parents/carers to shape what Asthma UK researches and campaigns on. We feel it is really important that we get your ideas, opinions and experiences to make sure that we are truly addressing the issues that matter to you.

Examples of the types of things you might be involved in as a Research and Policy Volunteer (RaP Vol) are:

• Using your experience as a person living with asthma to assess research funding applications.

• E-campaigning and speaking at events to influence politicians and policy makers on the issues that matter to people with asthma such as prescription charges.

• Setting priorities for research into the diagnosis, treatment and management of asthma.

• Sharing your experience of asthma and healthcare services through surveys, interviews and questionnaires.

Some of the stories that I’ve read on here are really quite shocking, especially the posts on workplace discrimination and the experiences some mums have had taking their child to A&E. I strongly feel that more people need to hear these stories and I think this could be one way to do that.

How much involvement you have has is entirely up to you, activities will take place throughout the year and you can take part in as few or as many of these as you like. These can be via email surveys, phone etc so you don’t need to travel if you don’t want to.

If you’re interested in finding out more, please take a look at asthma.org.uk/influence.

I really hope that some of you will consider becoming a RaP Vol and having your say.

Thanks

Kim Gillberg