ALSPAC Participant and Public Advisory Panel (APPAP)

Hello, I’m Matt, an active member of Children of the 90s and the APPAP committee. Having been a lifelong supporter and participant in Children of the 90s studies, I’m now thrilled to contribute behind the scenes on the APPAP committee. In this role, I provide advice, guidance, and feedback on research proposals, helping researchers refine ideas that may eventually move forward for active participant involvement.

Kevin Hebditch is a member of the public who worked for ALSPAC over twenty years ago, and has maintained an interest in the project ever since. He is an active member of his local community and has a strong belief in community voice and community power. He has a wide range of experience, primarily in education and also in governance.

I have been part of the Children of the 90s project since giving birth to my daughter in 1992 and have been fascinated by the study and it's research ever since.

I was a head of year 7 responsible for transition to secondary school and all a teacher of physical education but have now retired from the profession.

Being part of APPAP has given me a focus again. Children's development, both social, mental and physical has been core to my career and I am so pleased I can contribute to the fantastic work of Children of the 90's 

Tara lives in south-east Bristol with her family. She has a background in social work and the probation service, moving into social work education and training as a lecturer at Bristol University for 10 years. She had breast cancer when her children were very young, and this led to becoming an active participant in networks and organization involved in creating a forum for patient voices at variety of levels. Her knowledge and skills in equality and anti-discrimination policies and practices were also another element to her PPI interest. Tara served on the Bristol Health Boards as a Non-Executive Director for over 20 years (Health Authority, Primary Care Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Group). She has extensive involvement with health partnerships in Bristol and provided patient perspectives at strategic and service delivery level with clinicians.

She served 8 years on NIHR INVOLVE Advisory Group helping shape guidance and standards for PPI in health and social care including guidance on co production and equalities. She is currently involved with research initiatives as a patient/ public member in Bristol and Birmingham and has recently completed part of a lived experience panel membership for The Patients Association.

She has a wide ranging health conditions which has brought her in regular contact with the heart institute, a major surgery which necessitates regular intervention at the ENT department and Eye hospital as an outpatient .

She is thrilled to be involved with APPAP, having two generations of family involved in ALSPAC.

Having lived in Bristol for 10 years, I moved to Wiltshire with my husband and 3 children 27 years ago. As a specialist teacher for those with special educational needs and disabilities, specialising in dyslexia and autism I worked in primary schools for 16 years before moving to work with those with SEND at university. This has included supporting those with many different needs, ranging from deafness to ADHD.

Alongside my work, I have been part of the family that makes up a charity for adults with SEND and supported Caring at Bristol, a homeless charity.

My daughter is part of the Children of the 90’s programme and continues to be a staunch supporter and it is my own involvement which has led to being part of APPAP. The work that has been carried out over the years has made such a difference to many people’s lives and I regularly recommend students to seek out the ALSPAC research to inform their own studies.