Developing community and agency engagement in an action research study in South Wales

Public policy initiatives in both health and social and economic regeneration stress the importance of involving lay publics in the formulation and delivery of services that affect them. While this approach promises initiatives that will be more relevant, effective and sustainable in the areas that they target, adopting such an approach also presents a number of fundamental challenges to which it is important to give due consideration if such an approach is to be effective. Drawing on experience of action research in an area of multiple deprivation in South Wales, this paper will consider some of the general theoretical and practical challenges involved in achieving successful community and agency engagement. The research was conducted under the Welsh Assembly Government's Sustainable Health Action Research Programme (SHARP).