Time constraints
The short timeframe for the study created a number of challenges and potentially restricted opportunities to establish sustainable relationships as the foundation for community participatory research. However, working with Co-Research Organisations helped with some of these challenges and strengthened the study. Future work is recommended to evaluate this approach to community participatory research and better understand its value for wider use in Somerset.
Geographic gaps
The study was unable to recruit participants from all of the key “hot spot” areas identified in the quantitative part of the study. Some Co-Research Organisations suggested that political pressure and intense media scrutiny around the benefits system may have discouraged people from taking part. Further work in these areas is recommended.
Sample bias
Most people who took part in the study were service users from support organisations that partnered as Co-Research Community Organisations. Their experiences with work, confidence levels, and motivation may be quite different from those who are not using support services to help them find employment. While the study included a range of experiences, the group of participants might not fully represent the wider population. Future studies should look at using other ways to reach people, like snowball sampling and more creative methods.
Participant demographics
There were fewer female participants in the 25-39 age group and fewer men in the 60-65 age group. The reasons for these disparities remain unclear and warrant further investigation. Understanding the underlying causes is important to help design services that ensure equitable reach, access, and representation across genders.
Methodology
Due to time limitations, a full co-production approach was not possible. Instead, a co-design model was used to shape the research with input and support from the LEAP, COAP and Co-Research Organisations.
