PEAs in Pods: A showcase of co-production of community based public engagement featuring the voices of community members and public engagement ambassadors

Crockett, Keeley ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1941-6201, Taylor, Rochelle ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3675-1530, Linn, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2974-0152, Nunn, Caitlin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3145-3099, Coleman, Lauren and Bellchambers, Leanne (2025) PEAs in Pods: A showcase of co-production of community based public engagement featuring the voices of community members and public engagement ambassadors. Documentation. Manchester Metropolitan University.

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Abstract

Trust in Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the confidence that an AI system will consistently act in a fair, transparent, and beneficial manner, respecting individual privacy and societal values without causing unintended harm. Different user stakeholders will have varying expectations and levels of trust in the use of AI, depending on several factors including their lived experiences, personal knowledge, context of use and understanding of the technology. Additionally, they may be unaware of their rights regarding protection from AI and digital technologies or may be excluded from these conversations altogether due to digital poverty. As an innovator/provider of AI products and services, to truly build trust, the involvement of people, beyond the conceptual target user group and specifically from marginalised communities, is essential. To achieve this goal, we need to integrate techniques such as co-creation and co-production into the AI ecosystem and ensure that public engagement is embedded from the outset. The PEAs in Pods project demonstrates how co-production of community based public engagement for AI research can make research more pertinent and impactful. The project seeks to empower the research community, including universities and businesses, to engage meaningfully with communities and embed co-production methods into individual and organisational research processes and governance. Traditionally marginalised communities include those experiencing geographic or socioeconomic deprivation, older people who are often less engaged and underrepresented in discussions regarding the impact of technology, people with lived experience of homelessness, and ethnically diverse communities. Funded by UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) - Grant Ref: EP/W033488/1, the project began in 2022 with a series of roadshows that recruited 23 researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford, and local Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s). The project team then delivered a unique 4-day training programme to researchers covering public engagement skills and community co-production in the context of AI and data-driven technologies. Our researchers, now officially Public Engagement Ambassadors (PEAs), went on to deliver three inspirational public engagement programmes over 12 months, supported by a mentoring scheme. The PEAs collaborated with community members at The Tatton (Salford), Inspire (Levenshulme), and Back on Track (Manchester). This case study booklet captures the experiences and voices of some of the community members and PEAs who co-produced three key outputs: The People’s Charter for Artificial Intelligence, a community video on People’s Perceptions of AI, and the Strengths Exchange Workshop, which aimed to connect employers committed to social mobility with individuals impacted by homelessness who are ready to return to work. It has been a privilege and an honour to work alongside community members, our community consultants, the PEAs, the project team, and our partners. As a human being, I have learned so much through “living the experience”. I hope you too will feel inspired!