The People in Public Health study sought to bring greater clarity around the different models in practice and to determine how public health services could support lay people involved in delivering public health programmes. The aims of the study were:

• • to improve understanding of valid approaches to identifying, developing and supporting lay people who take on public health roles in community-based public health activities;

• • to undertake research on public perspectives regarding the acceptability and value of lay people in public health roles; and

• • to aid public health commissioning and planning by identifying elements of good practice and how these might be applied to different contexts.

A research partnership between Leeds Metropolitan University, NHS Bradford and Airedale (a teaching Primary Care Trust), and the Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber was responsible for the implementation of the study, although the study was national in scope. This collaborative approach enabled the research team to maximise dialogue with the public health field in England and to promote shared learning. The study was conducted in two distinct phases over a 27-month period (2007–09). The first phase comprised a scoping study with three linked elements:

• • A systematic scoping review of 224 publications on lay engagement in public health roles that mapped models occurring in public health practice and thematic issues for service delivery and organisation.

• • Three expert hearings where key informants with relevant experience and expertise presented evidence. Deliberative methods were used to explore different perspectives and stimulate debate on contested issues.

• • The establishment of a Register of Interest where information about projects involving lay health workers could be posted combined with some follow-up site visits to current projects.

Phase 2 involved primary qualitative research to investigate roles and support issues in greater depth through five case studies of public health projects. The case studies each reflected a different model of practice and community of interest (see Table A1). Interviews were conducted with a range of stakeholders involved in the case study projects, including public health commissioners, practitioners, partner organisations, lay health workers, volunteers and programme recipients. In total, 136 people took part in interviews and focus groups.