Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is welcoming the public to a series of events held across the Bradford District to help them develop their new involvement strategy.

The involvement strategy is being developed by the Care Trust’s Patient Involvement and Experience Team, who regularly work with patients, service users and carers from across the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven areas. These people make regular and valuable contributions to the services the Trust provides and draw on their own experiences of using Trust services to advise and suggest improvements.

To develop the new involvement strategy, the Trust is inviting the local community to share their views and ideas on what is important to them when using Trust services. There are six events running throughout May to June that the team is inviting members of the public to visit, the first event is at Kala Sangam Arts Centre, Clock Tower Suite, Bradford BD1 4TY, Tuesday 14 May, 11.30am – 2.00pm, followed by Ings Community School, Broughton Rd, Skipton BD23 1TE, Wednesday 15 May, 12.00pm – 2.30pm.

The valuable feedback gathered from these events will help to implement the development of this new four-year strategy, helping to make sure the views and experiences of local people are reflected in how the Trust involves people, and in setting the priorities for the next few years.

There will also be an opportunity for people to contribute online via a short questionnaire which will be coming soon and plans of several ‘#twitterchat’ discussions where people can join in the conversation online and share their views in an informal, communal setting.

There are many ways that members of the community can become involved in Trust work, from developing information for patient and carers, to contributing to improving quality and safety of care, inspecting the environment and facilities, designing services and participating in staff recruitment. Some of the projects that people have been able to contribute to over the last 12 months have included helping to train student nurses; participating in an action group to continue to develop the Trust’s MyWellbeing College service; and being involved in the recruitment and selection of new Trust Board members and senior staff.

The Care Trust’s Patient Experience and Involvement Lead, Isla Skinner, said: “The contributions made by the people who get involved with the Trust are invaluable and the Trust’s new vision ‘better lives, together’ goes to the heart of why we want to involve people. Their insights and being experts by experiences help us make sure that the care provided meets the needs of our local communities, and equally importantly, that the people we serve have a voice in how we deliver care. We really want a wide variety of people to come along to an event and shape how we take this forward.”

Members of the public are invite to share their views at the following events: Tuesday 14 May, 11.30am – 2.00pm, Kala Sangam Arts Centre, Clock Tower Suite, Bradford BD1 4TY; Wednesday 15 May, 12.00pm – 2.30pm, Ings Community School, Broughton Rd, Skipton BD23 1TE; Tuesday 28 May, 11.30am – 2.00pm, Keighley Central Hall, Alice St, Keighley BD21 3JD In partnership with Healthwatch; Wednesday 29 May, 5.30pm – 8.00pm, BDCFT Head Office, New Mill, Victoria Rd, Saltaire, BD18 3LD; Thursday 30 May, 1.30 – 3.30pm, Carer Hub, Horton Park Health Centre Level 2, Bradford BD73EG and Thursday 6 June, 1.30pm – 3.30pm, Canalside Health Centre, Bingley BD16 4RP.

All events are in accessible venues, refreshments will be provided, and if people need specific support such as an interpreter this can be arranged. To book a free place and for further information on getting involved, contact the Trust’s Patient Experience Lead on 01274 228298, or email involve@bdct.nhs.uk