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PHIRST REACH

Unites experts in public health, local and national policy and evaluation methods from the Universities of York and Leeds, the Bradford Institute of Health Research, public health practitioners and members of the public.

PHIRST REACH ‘Responsive Evaluation and Analytics for Community Health’ has many years of experience working on local government evaluations that have positively supported healthy living and environments. The team is led by Maria Bryant, Professor of Public Health Nutrition with over 20 years’ experience in trial design and delivery and Dr Kath Roberts a Registered Nutritionist and epidemiologist with 18 years’ experience working in public health intelligence for the UK government.

PHIRST REACH uses a collaborative, place-based approach, engaging with local government, relevant stakeholders and members of the public throughout the process. It prioritises trust and relationship building at the start of each project through regular and transparent conversations with local partners.

Active co-production is embedded throughout the evaluation, including training members of the public to undertake data collection and help understand and share findings. We have a local, well established and diverse Public Involvement and Engagement group. These activities are supported by a named and experienced person within our team and we include a member of our core team who is a public representative.

PHIRST REACH's approach to involving and engaging local communities uses established principles that have been co-developed to ensure a diverse range of voices are heard via power sharing, welcoming perspectives, respecting lived experience, benefits for all parties, flexible working, building relationships and provision of adequate resources.

REACH members