This thesis explores a project I set up in 1999 to help service users with mental health problems become more involved with the design and provision of the services offered to them. I involved service users in the planning, design and evaluation of the services they received from my department, by offering them training in research and evaluation skills. My aim was to empower service users so they could feel valued and confident about playing a central role in the research evaluation of the service provision of Bolton Social Services.