What’s coming: Year 2…
A message from Debbie,
CMV Connect Project Coordinator
CMV Awareness month has been the perfect time to reflect on CMV Connect’s first year – celebrating what worked well, identifying areas where we can do even better, and, most importantly, listening to your feedback.
Throughout July, we’ll be sharing the results of our Year 1 evaluation, highlighting what you told us has made the biggest difference and how your experiences are shaping the future of CMV Connect.
Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us plan Year 2. We’ve listened to what you told us, and we’re excited to share what’s staying, what’s new, and what’s getting even better.
Year 2 of CMV Connect: Shaped by You
Everything we’re planning for Year 2 has been informed by your feedback. We’ve listened carefully to what you told us and have focused on building on what works, introducing new opportunities, and making it even easier for families to get involved.
What’s Staying
These are the parts of CMV Connect that you’ve told us make the biggest difference:
- WhatsApp communities – continuing to provide moderated, supportive spaces for families.
- Online sessions – planned well in advance so you can save the dates and join the topics that matter most to you.
- Wellbeing sessions – offering a safe and supportive space to focus on your own wellbeing.
- Support Service – available throughout the year, with improved processes to make it easier to access.
- Lived experience opportunities – expanding to involve even more families in shaping awareness, research and support.
What’s New
We’re excited to introduce several new developments this year:
- CMV Action Ambassador Programme – for families who would like to represent CMV Action and help raise awareness.
- Our first face-to-face family meet-up – a pilot event to help us learn what works before expanding these opportunities more widely.
- Earlier support after diagnosis – working towards a smoother handover from Paediatric Infectious Diseases (PID) clinics so families can access CMV Connect sooner.
- Reaching more families – increasing our efforts to connect with families who haven’t yet found CMV Connect.
Making Things Simpler
We’ve also made changes to reduce the time you spend giving feedback while ensuring we continue to improve:
- Shorter, optional feedback after sessions – just a couple of quick questions instead of lengthy surveys.
- ‘You said, we did’ updates – so you can clearly see how your feedback is shaping the programme.
Looking Ahead
In short, we’re keeping the parts of CMV Connect you value most, introducing exciting new opportunities, and making it easier than ever to take part.
One of our first priorities will be bringing families together to help shape our lived experience work for the year ahead.
Watch this space – we’re excited for what’s to come.
Share your feedback. Let us know your thoughts – we want to hear what kind of support or events would mean the most to you – drop me an email at debbierennie@cmvaction.org.uk
CMV Connect has been made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery Community Fund.