Going remote

For a group co-producing participatory homeless health research, the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenging circumstances, notably physically distanced working. With limited technology among the research team and participants alike, remote research – especially participatory research – was not easy. However, participatory approaches are important because they enable teams to bring together a wide range of collective expertise and experience that is vital for addressing need, especially during health crises. Another benefit is their focus on reflexivity: that is, taking stock of one’s own positions, beliefs, and experiences; understanding their impact; and using this to inform working practices. This varied expertise and a process of ongoing reflexivity helped us devise creative and practical solutions to some of the obstacles to co-producing research posed by the pandemic.