REACHE stands for Research Engagement And Collaborative Health Enquiry. This research project focused on working to include people with learning disabilities into research projects, with the goal of promoting inclusion, improving engagement and ensuring health research is guided by personal experiences.

This project was led by Lecturer in Nursing Helen Marshall and Dr Carolyn Lees, a Senior Lecturer in Nursing. The project began in February 2023, the aim was to work completely in co-production throughout, demonstrating precisely what we aim to encourage – the inclusion of a person with a learning disability as part of the research team.

The team included eight people with lived experience who had a learning disability, this included DAVID project members from People First Merseyside as well as members of ‘Moving On With Life and Learning’ (MOWLL).

The project worked to challenge stereotypes about the capabilities, and talents of those with learning disabilities, and show how they could bring a unique and valuable insight to research. Including people’s lived experiences is a key focus of the study. After working together, the group agreed that content resources were needed to deliver the key messages and promote our project both internally and beyond. A video was commissioned to showcase the REACHE project, it’s aims and goals, and the people who will drive it forward.

Moving forward, the REACHE team are committed to continuing their work on the integration of those with learning disabilities into research work. The team will work both internally and beyond the University of Liverpool to affect change in the way we work as a scientific community, and show the benefit of our project and the fantastic people that we work with.

We are really proud of the brilliant work that our members, Siobhan, Robert and Simon have been a part of and would like to wish the whole REACHE team good luck with their nomination for Partnership of the Year from the Student Nursing Times Awards 2025.