Working with the public has always been important to me. After several years as a nurse I became the Patient and Public Involvement Officer at the  Southampton NIHR Clinical Research Facility, Biomedical Research Centre, and Biomedical Research Unit.  As part of this role I established core public involvement groups for both adults and children, as well as a young adults group in collaboration with the South Central Research Design Service. Outreach work allowed me to help researchers facilitate condition specific groups, as well as reach out to the local community and ensure that opportunities for involvement were offered to a diverse range of people. I ensured that education on public involvement was a priority, both to the public and the research community.  I am passionate about the involvement of people in research, especially children and young people. kate.sonpal@nihr.ac.uk