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Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd a Môn Mind Our Future Gwynedd & Anglesey

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Croeso i’n newyddlen, y lle i ddarganfod a dysgu mwy am ein prosiect, ac yn gyfle gwych i ni hyrwyddo’r gwaith ac i ddathlu ymrwymiad ein Harweinyddion Ifanc.

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Cafodd dau o’n Harweinwyr Ifanc, Kai a Harvey, y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn Podlediad gyda Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru, Rocio Cifuentes a Millie Boswell, Ymgynghorydd/Arweinydd Gweithredu Nest/Nyth ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru.

Two of our Young Leaders Kai & Harvey were given the opportunity to take part in a Podcast with The Children’s Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes and Millie Boswell the Nest/Nyth Implementation Advisor/Lead for Welsh Government.

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Young Person's Voice and Children's Rights / Llais Pobl Ifanc a Hawliau Plant

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The Children's Commissioner for Wales and young mental health leaders from North Wales talk about children's rights, young people's voice and engagement and wha

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Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd a Môn Mind Our Future Gwynedd & Anglesey

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Croeso i’n newyddlen, y lle i ddarganfod a dysgu mwy am ein prosiect, ac yn gyfle gwych i ni hyrwyddo’r gwaith ac i ddathlu ymrwymiad ein Harweinyddion Ifanc.

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English Parent carer feedback survey report

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Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd a Môn Mind Our Future Gwynedd & Anglesey

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Croeso i’n newyddlen, y lle i ddarganfod a dysgu mwy am ein prosiect, ac yn gyfle gwych i ni hyrwyddo’r gwaith ac i ddathlu ymrwymiad ein Harweinyddion Ifanc.

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We can help you get the support you need to grow and develop

We offer practical and emotional support so that you can enter adulthood with the confidence you need to achieve your full potential. Discover ways we support young people below or use the search bar to find services in your local area.

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We support young people who are young carers, care leavers, those looking to gain workplace skills, LGBT+ those at risk of homelessness.

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Fideo Arweinwyr Ifanc Meddwl Ymlaen / Mind Our Future Young Leaders' Video

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Please join us for our first online voice and influence Community of Practice on; Wednesday 21.05.25/ 3.30-5

What’s it all about
The Community of Practice is a space to talk about voice and influence practice. You may know lots about voice and influence, you might have some understanding, or you might know nothing at all about it and that’s okay, anyone and everyone that supports young people aged 11-25 in Gwynedd and Anglesey are welcome to join.

As a team, we are committed to creating safe and inclusive spaces for all, and so we also invite you to get in touch if there is anything that we can do to help you feel comfortable in the session.

How to join

If you would like to join, please complete the form within this link Ffurflen gofrestru/ Registration form

Following this a Microsoft Teams meeting link will be sent to the email address that you provide

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Community of Practice additional information

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GISDA was established in 1985 to provide support and accommodation for homeless young people in the area.

Projects

At GISDA, we run several different projects. Our largest project is the Supporting People project. This project provides support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Through this project we are able to support 62 young people throughout Gwynedd at any one time.

Services

Every member of staff provides a tailored, person-centred support package. This enables each individual to gain an understanding of their rights and responsibilities and it helps them develop the skills required for living independently.

Need Help?

At GISDA, we support each individual with their accommodation needs and we hope to help each individual build positive, trusting relationships. We work hard to make sure no young person faces any form of discrimination and that they are able to integrate fully into the wider community.

Donate

Your donations help us provide a better life for our young people. We would like to thank everyone from the business sector who have supported us and who continue to support us to this day.

About Us

We want to offer vulnerable people in our society the opportunity to improve their quality of life so they aren't disadvantaged because of poverty.

In 1989, in partnership with Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, we opened our first hostel, called Hafan, in Caernarfon, for 8 young people. Since then we have opened another hostel, called Llys Meddyg, and a hostel, called Fron Fawr, both in Blaenau Ffestiniog. We also have two fully- furnished houses in Dolgellau, which are owned by Tai Clwyd. We also work in partnership with Gwynedd Council and the Housing Associations and, as a result, we have projects that can support people in other properties. We also continue to support people who are still living at home.

GISDA originally stood for'Grŵp Ieuenctid Sengl Digartref Arfon' which meant Young, Single, Homeless Group of Arfon. Today we support young homeless people and their families throughout Gwynedd to include: single young people, single parents, expectant mothers, couples and families.

Over the years our services have expanded and developed and are still as much in demand today as they have always been.

Work with us

Looking for a fullfilling and challenging career?

Caernarfon

LGBTQ+ Support and Admin Worker

To support the LGBTQ+ project in Gwynedd

£17353 - £18596 pro rata
Holiday, Sickness, Pension, Wellbeing Plan, Flexible Hours

Caernarfon

LGBTQ+ Project Team Leader

Lead the Lottery Funded LGBTQ+ project in Gwynedd.

£21010 - £23876
Holiday, Sickness, Pension, Wellbeing Plan, Flexible Hours

Stories

We treat every individual with equal respect and we always appreciate hearing feedback about our services.

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GISDA - Offering an opportunity for Young People to live independently

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GISDA was established in 1985 to provide support and accommodation for homeless young people in the area. At GISDA, we run several different projects. Our largest project is the Supporting People project. This project provides support for young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

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Barnardo’s is a British charity that protects and supports children and young people in the UK. It was founded by Thomas John Barnardo in 1866. Today, Barnardo’s runs around 900 local services, aimed at helping children with complex issues like sexual abuse, mental health problems and serious violence. It is the UK’s largest children’s charity, in terms of charitable expenditure

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Anglesey Youth Service works with anyone aged 11 to 19, regardless of gender, background or ability.

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Rozena Hughes, Service Administrator

Young Leaders Gwynedd a Môn (x24)

Beca Williams, Voice & Inclusion Worker

Tesni Evans, Voice & Inclusion Worker

Rachel Griffith, Change Enabler

Luke Stevens, Change Enabler

Llinos Evans, Change Enabler

Meinir Williams-Jones, Assistant Director Children’s Services

Lyn Môn Owen-Hughes, Children`s Service Manager

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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

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The Specialist CAMHS Single Point of Access (CAMHS SPoA) reviews all referral requests and provides telephone consultation and advice for professionals where there is a concern about the emotional wellbeing or mental health of a child or young person.

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Hi, I'm Lyn and I'm the Project Manager for the Mind our Future project.

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Hi, I'm Rachel and I'm a Change Enabler for the Mind our Future Project.

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Is this your domain?Connect it to your Wix website in just a few easy steps:

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Find contact details for mental health helplines and listening services. Read about how these services could help if you are struggling.

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Sending a message is free, and we'll usually reply within a day. Writing to a counsellor can give you the space to say what you want and to ask questions.

You can say as much or as little as you feel able to. If you're not sure what to write, you could start by including:

A little about yourself, like your name and how old you are

What's been happening or what's on your mind, and how it makes you feel

Any questions you might have, and what you'd like to happen in the future

A title that says what you'd like to talk about

You don't need to write a lot if you don't want to, but it can help to include all the information the counsellor might need to know - if a counsellor needs to ask for more information, it can take longer to get help.

Writing an email can help you to get out your feelings, don't forget you can use your mood journal to record how you're feeling any time.

Call us on 0800 1111. Calls are free from landlines and mobiles in the UK. And they won't show up on your phone bill. Even if you don't have credit on your mobile phone you can still call us for free.

Calls are not recorded and our number won't show up on any phone bills. Counsellors write some notes about what you tell them. Childline is confidential, that means we'll only tell someone else if:

you ask us to

we believe your life or someone else's life is in danger

you're being hurt by someone in a position of trust who is able to hurt other children like a teacher, religious leader, sports coach, police officer or doctor

you tell us that you're seriously hurting another person

you tell us about another child who's being hurt and is not able to tell someone or understand what is happening to them

we're told we have to by law, for example for a court case.

Live in the Channel Islands?
Calls may be chargeable from mobiles and the number will appear on your mobile bill. To call us free from the Channel Islands, try using a landline or phone box. Or contact a counsellor online using 1-2-1 counsellor chat.

Calling from abroad?
If you go abroad and need to contact Childline, you might be charged. But you can still get support and advice from our website.

Calling from Guernsey?
If you're calling from Guernsey and Airtel is your mobile phone provider, you'll need to dial 0044800 1111 to speak to a counsellor.

Lots of young people have told us that talking on the phone feels too scary, or that they're worried about being overheard.

Talking on the phone can help in lots of ways, and the more you do it the easier it can feel. If you want to call but you're struggling, if can help to:

Try dialling the number but not saying anything
This can help you to see what calling is like. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, or you could talk about something that interests you.

Ask questions
When you get through to Childline, you can ask as much as you want about how we work.

Find the best place to talk
Find somewhere quiet where you can focus if you can.

Take your time
Childline counsellors understand that it's not easy to talk, and they can help you to feel more confident. Remember, if you can't talk on the phone right now, you can start by using the 1-2-1 chats or sending an email using your Childline account.

Any time you're ready, you can call us on 0800 1111.

It can take longer to get through at night, but there are things you can do while you're waiting to get the best from your chat:

Write down what you'd like to talk about
Writing down or practicing what you want to say can make it easier when you get through; it can also help you to feel better. If you've written down what you want to say but can't wait, try sending it in an email to us, a counsellor will reply as soon as they can.

Think about what you want from your 1-2-1 chat
For example, would you like to feel differently, or get some tips on how to cope? Thinking about what you want from your chat can help your counsellor support you. But it's always okay if you're not sure what you want.

Choose one thing to focus on
When you've got lots going on it can be difficult talking about it all, focusing on one thing can help you get the most out of your chat.

There are lots of things you can do to cope while you're waiting for a counsellor. Try distracting yourself by playing a game or getting support on the message boards.

If you don't feel able to wait for a counsellor, it can help to talk to an adult you trust.

If you contact us, we'd want to make sure you're safe. So we might ask you where you are and who you're with, as well as how you're feeling. This can help us understand your situation.

We might feel that you're unsafe if you're:

thinking about running away tonight

out and not wanting to go home

out alone late at night with no shelter, food or drink

having thoughts or urges to self-harm or feeling suicidal

harming yourself

taking or are thinking about taking drugs or a lot of alcohol

at risk of being abused overnight

out with a gang, or at risk of being forced to commit a crime or getting hurt.

We want to support you and help you find ways to cope. And we'd always try to let you know if we need to get help to you in an emergency.

If you're worried or need support at night, you could try asking an adult you trust for help.

When you're feeling stressed or upset it can be difficult to know what to do. But there are ways to feel more relaxed while you're waiting to get through to a counsellor.

You can:

sign into your locker to get your feelings out with our mood journal

express how you feel using the Art box

listen to soothing music or make a playlist you enjoy

try our balloon game and watch your worries float away

focus on your breathing to manage your anxiety. Take deep, slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Contact Childline with SignVideo
SignVideo lets you contact a counsellor through a BSL interpreter. You can use it between Monday - Friday, 8am - 8pm and on Saturdays, 8am - 1pm.

How to use SignVideo:

open SignVideo and click "allow webcam"

when you're connected, an interpreter will appear on your screen

you can chat to the interpreter in BSL

they'll translate your conversation to the counsellor.

To be able to see YouTube videos, we have to ask you to accept Targeting Cookies within your Cookie Settings

Contacting us in Welsh / Childline ar gyfer pobl ifanc sy'n siarad Cymraeg
We don't offer a full Welsh speaking counselling service. But we do have some Welsh speaking counsellors. If you contact us (by phone or online) and let us know you'd like to talk to someone in Welsh we can arrange a time for you to speak to a Welsh speaking counsellor.

Childline is a free number, so anyone can call us at any time. Every young person who contacts us is important and we do our best to answer every call as quickly as possible.

A small number of people, often adults, call us for reasons other than getting help or support. We try to stop these calls and help them get support from other places. But sometimes these callers still try to phone Childline again and again. Sometimes so much that it can stop young people getting through.

Because of this we put a limit on the number of times someone can call us from the same phone number in a single day. This is 10 calls in a 24 hour period.

If you do call us more than 10 times in a 24 hour period you'll hear a message telling you that you can't call for another 24 hours.

Even if this has happened you can still get support from our info and advice pages and you can contact using the 1-2-1 counsellor chats or by emailing.

We do our best to answer every call as soon as possible. Sometimes having to wait to get through to a counsellor can be difficult. But it's best to stay on the line if you can. Hanging up and calling back means you'll go to the back of the queue.

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Call us free on 0800 1111 or find out how to get in touch online. Whatever your worry, we're here for you.

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Want to give us your feedback or make a suggestion. Below are the ways you can get in touch - we're always happy to hear from you.

Looking for advice or support?

If you're under 25 and need help call our helpline for FREE on 0808 808 4994. You can also speak to our trained helpline supporters on our one to one chat service. The Mix's team will be able to connect you with a range of services to help you with your query.
Contact us on Social Media

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Contact us - all the different ways you can get in touch with us at The Mix

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We do not tolerate behaviours that are threatening or abusive in any way. While we recognise that people who exhibit these behaviours have a right to the support they need, it's not possible for us to provide a safe and supportive space when met with threatening or abusive behaviours.

We act to prevent further contacts from callers who behave in these ways. Please see our privacy policy for more information.
Limiting or withdrawing access to our services
From time to time we may have to use the information collected about you when you contact us to make decisions about limiting access to our services. If we believe you are abusing our service or are abusive towards volunteers, we will use our system to block your calls or messages from getting through.

If you can't get through by phone, you will hear a message that explains how to contact us to discuss our decision to block you from our system.

If we take the decision to limit your access to our systems, we will make every effort to inform you as to the reason why we have restricted your access. We may ask you to give us a contact number so that a member of our Caller Support Team can call you to talk about your support needs.

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If you're going through a tough time, contact us free. We won't judge you or tell you what to do. We are here to listen so you don't have to face it alone.

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Mind Our Future is a £10 million grant programme from the National Lottery Community Fund. The programme aims to empower young people (11-25 years) to create and implement a vision for a more resilient and mentally healthy future for young people in their community. Gwynedd and Anglesey have received 1.5 million over 5 years. The Gwynedd and Anglesey partnership involves the following agencies and organisations:

• Barnardo's (Lead Agency)

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Child and Adolescents Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

• GISDA

• Gwynedd Youth Services

• Outdoor Partnership

• Anglesey Youth Services

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Year 1 – Development Phase:

We have now completed the 12-month development phase. Two young people were appointed as Voice and Inclusion Workers, and their role was to work with the Partnership and other services/groups/individuals across both counties to ensure that young people's voices were heard. This information gathered now sets the path for the next three years.

The information gathered over the past 12 months came from specific target groups. These were;

•       Girls (younger)

•       Older girls (16-25)

•       LGBTQ+

•       Those living in poverty (urban/rural)

•       BAME – black/black British

•       Disabled – young disabled (not broken into physical disability/ long term illness, learning disability, ASD)

•       Young homeless

•       Young Carers

•       Young people in the care system

•       Those who live in rural areas.

•       Welsh language speakers

•       Neurodiverse young people

•       Travellers

•       Young boys

•       Older boys

•       Young people who have experienced trauma

Control groups

•       School Councils

Mind our Future Evaluators – People & Work in partnership and Sylfaen Wledig are the evaluators for the entire project– they will focus on the findings of the North Wales Population Assessment 2022 as well as other key data for the target groups, namely the groups of young people. "Desk based scoping review" attached explains more.

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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service  (CAMHS)

(Early Intervention & Prevention Service) focus on helping children and young  people who experience emotional, behavioural, and other psychological difficulties. The  Early Intervention & Prevention Service provides comprehensive support for children,  young people, and their families through a multi-disciplinary team. Help is offered through  direct work with young people and/or indirect work with and alongside other professionals  (via joint working, signposting, group work, professional consultation, training and/or multi  agency partnership arrangements).

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GISDA

Provides intensive support and opportunities to vulnerable young people in Gwynedd between 16 and 25 years old. GISDA seeks to improve young people’s lives by  working with them to  develop their independent living skills and improve their employability, health and wellbeing and sense of self-worth. Projects include supporting young parents, raising awareness of homelessness across schools,  finding and providing accommodation for young people, supporting transitions to employment and social enterprises such as the café in Caernarfon.

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Under the local authority, Gwynedd Youth Service provides a wide range of services for  young people that promote emotional well-being and resilience, e.g., libraries, leisure, play,  education, employability support, housing and accommodation, care, and health. Ieuenctid Gwynedd Youth (statutory youth service) supports young people to make  a positive contribution to their community, make positive decisions about their health and wellbeing and support young people to gain the skills to help prepare for life and  employment. Ieuenctid Gwynedd Youth also champion the Five Ways to Wellbeing within their service to help promote and support young people's wellbeing and resilience.

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The Outdoor Partnership is a registered charity enhancing people’s lives through outdoor activities. Y Bartneriaeth Awyr Agored’s objectives include delivering generational change to encourage lifelong participation in outdoor activity; building capacity to support local participation, performance, skills development, and employment of all ages. They also enable equality, diversity, and inclusion through the targeting of disadvantaged groups for engagement in outdoor activities, outdoor learning/education and training, mental and physical health and wellbeing and building community clubs and breaking down barriers to support sustainable use of local environment and natural resources

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Ynys Môn Youth Service (statutory youth service) includes 25 youth clubs across the  island with area and school Youth Officers in each school. Work in schools includes 1:1  work, specialist support through therapeutic workers, LGBTQI+ clubs, school drop-ins and  alternative curriculum work. The youth service also has an alcohol and substance misuse worker (part of Gwynedd and Anglesey ‘Be Di’r Sgor' team). Services also include an Early  Intervention Team working with 16–24-year-old young people not in education, training, or  employment (NEET).The service also includes the TRAC Project (11–16-year-olds at risk of disengaging from education) as well as working closely with the Urdd and Young Farmers.

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Year 2-5 – Delivery Phase:

We are currently in this exciting phase, the Delivery Phase. We have three Change Enablers appointed and the main aim of their role is to respond to the information shared by the young people (in the first year) to improve their resilience to ensure a sustainable and mentally healthy future.

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315137 - Childrens Recipe Book English A4 online version

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Mae'r wybodaeth ar y dudalen hon ar gael mewn BSL
Mae CCUHP yn golygu Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn. Mae'n rhestr o hawliau sydd gan bob plentyn a pherson ifanc, ble bynnag yn y byd, ni waeth pwy ydyn nhw, ble maent yn byw na'r hyn maent yn credu ynddo.

Mae gan y CCUHP 54 erthygl ynddo, mae 42 yn hawliau i blant a phobl ifanc hyd at 18 oed. Mae'r lleill yn ymwneud â sut y dylai llywodraethau ac oedolion gydweithio i wneud yn siŵr y gall plant a phobl ifanc ddefnyddio'u hawliau.

Mae'r hawliau ar y rhestr yn bethau y mae ar blant a phobl ifanc eu hangen i wneud yn siŵr eu bod yn ddiogel, bod ganddynt y pethau y mae arnynt eu hangen i oroesi a datblygu, a'u bod yn cael dweud eu dweud ar benderfyniadau sy'n effeithio ar eu bywydau.

Os hoffech ddarllen mwy am hawliau plant yng Nghymru ewch i wefan Hawliau Plant yng Nghymru.

Yn 2011 fe ddaeth y CCUHP yn rhan o gyfraith domestig Cymru - y wlad gyntaf ym Mhrydain i wneud hynny. Gallwch ddarllen mwy am y Mesur sydd wedi torri tir newydd yma.

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CCUHP - Hawliau Plant - Hawlfraint Comisiynydd Plant Cymru

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Mae'r wybodaeth ar y dudalen hon ar gael mewn BSL Mae CCUHP yn golygu Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn. Mae'n rhestr o hawliau sydd gan bob plentyn a pherson ifanc, ble bynnag yn y byd, ni waeth pwy

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Cytundeb rhyngwladol yw Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn (CCUHP), sy'n amddiffyn hawliau plant, beth bynnag yw eu hil, eu crefydd neu eu galluoedd.

Mae Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn (CCUHP) yn gytundeb rhyngwladol sy'n rhwymo'r gyfraith sy'n nodi hawliau sifil, gwleidyddol, economaidd, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol pob plentyn, beth bynnag ei hil, crefydd neu alluoedd.

Mae 196 o wledydd ar draws y byd wedi llofnodi'r cytundeb, a Chymru oedd y wlad gyntaf oll yn y Deyrnas Unedig i wneud egwyddorion CCUHP yn rhan o'r gyfraith. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi mabwysiadu CCUHP yn sail ar gyfer ei holl waith, ac mae erthyglau CCUHP yn cael eu crynhoi yn y Saith Nod Craidd ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc.

Daeth 'Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc (Cymru)' hefyd i rym ym mis Mai 2012, ac mae'n adeiladu ar ddull Llywodraeth Cymru o weithredu, sy'n seiliedig ar hawliau plant. Mae'r gyfraith hon yn sicrhau bod Ysgrifenyddion Cabinet a Gweinidogion Cymru bob amser yn ystyried hawliau plant fel y'u nodir yn CCUHP.

Young Wales is recruiting young people to join our boards and groups

Young Wales Induction Residential 2022

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Cytundeb rhyngwladol yw Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn (CCUHP), sy'n amddiffyn hawliau plant, beth bynnag yw eu hil, eu crefydd neu eu galluoedd. Mae Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn (CCUHP) yn gytundeb rhyngwladol sy'n rhwymo'r gyfraith sy'n nodi hawliau sifil, gwleidyddol, economaidd, cymdeithasol a diwylliannol pob plentyn, beth bynnag ei hil, crefydd neu alluoedd.

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Activities from 'Children's Rights Spice'em up!': A toolbox of methods for working with children and young people to raise awareness of their rights | Save the Children's Resource Centre

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This material contains selected activities from the original book 'Children's Rights: Spice 'em up!' and are intended for use with children ages 7 and up

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This checklist guides you on how to listen to children and young people and involve them in decision-making when you are developing policies, plans, and services at a national, local, and organisational level.

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This checklist is a guide to evaluating the effectiveness of involving children and young people in decision-making

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The Participation Toolkit suggests a range of tools, guidance and resources which can be useful for planning community engagement .

This is not an exhaustive list, but includes some well-known methods which are tried and tested, as well as some more recently-developed techniques.

Not sure where to start? Our step-by-step guide to engaging asks a series of questions to help you plan your engagement activity.
Use the filter buttons to help you to choose a method that meets your needs.

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The Participation Toolkit suggests a range of tools, guidance and resources which can be useful for planning community engagement . This is not an exhaustive list, but includes some well-known methods which are tried and tested, as well as some more recently-developed techniques. Not sure where to start?

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Guide to Involving Children and Young People (002)

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Participation Works_Evaluation Toolkit (1) (003)

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Welcome! We’re a community of people who believe in the value of co-production and citizen involvement. We’d love you to join us.

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Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)

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Updated: July 2022

Who the guide is for Open

managers and commissioners

frontline practitioners

people who draw on care and support

Evidence used for the guide Open

The guide is based on co-produced guidance that was originally produced by SCIE in October 2013 and updated in October 2015.

This revised version has also taken account of:

evidence from studies of co-production that were published after October 2015

other literature identified by SCIE staff and other people involved in this revision

a session with SCIE Co-production Network members on the principles of co-production

comments on the text from SCIE Co-production Network members

practice examples that show current practice on co-production in projects/organisations.

How the guide is organised Open

The guide is organised in two sections:

What is co-production? This section looks at what co-production is and the principles behind co-productive approaches to support and care.

How to do co-production. This section does not offer a step-by-step guide to doing co-production, as effective approaches will vary according to circumstances, but it gives guidance on key issues that need to be addressed to put co- production in organisations and projects into action.

Introduction

Co-production is a key concept in the development of public services and it has the potential to make an important contribution to all the big challenges that face social care provision.

This is a guide to what co-production is and how to develop co-productive approaches to working with people who draw on care and support and carers. It is aimed at managers and commissioners, frontline practitioners, and people who draw on care and support and carers.

The Care Act 2014 specifically includes the concept of co-production in its statutory guidance. The guidance defines co-production and suggests that it should be a key part of implementing the Care Act. In particular, co-production should be used to develop preventative, strength-based services, support assessment, shape the local care market, and plan information and advice services.

Definitions of exactly what co-production means vary, but the term is used to describe partnership working between people who draw on care and support, carers and citizens to improve public services.

There is an interest in co-production across the full range of public services, not just social care and health. Public, voluntary and private sector organisations and politicians have shown an interest in co-production. This interest reflects the widespread acknowledgement that the citizen has a vital role in achieving positive outcomes from public services.

Implementing co-production can be challenging and complex. It involves looking at every aspect of how an organisation works. This resource draws on the learning from a wide range of sources to help managers, practitioners, people who draw on care and support and carers to both understand and implement co-production in social care and beyond.

Recommendations

What is co-production?

If co-production is not clearly defined, there is a danger that its meaning will be diluted and its potential to transform services will be reduced. At the same time, a definition that is too narrow can stifle creativity and innovation. An important part of the process of co-production is for organisations and projects to come to an agreement on what they understand co-production to be and the principles that will guide its implementation.

This section of the guide looks at how co-production can be defined and then outlines a set of co-production principles that can help to give direction to co-production projects.

Defining co-production

There is no single formula for co-production, but there are some key features that are present in successful co-production initiatives. They:

define those who access care and support as people with skills

break down the barriers between people who draw on care and support and professionals

build on people's existing capabilities

include reciprocity (where people get something back for putting something in) and mutuality (people working together to achieve shared objectives)

work with peer and personal support networks alongside professional networks

facilitate services by helping organisations to become agents for change rather than just being service providers.

Definitions of co-production include:

Co-production is not just a word, it's not just a concept, it is a meeting of minds coming together to find a shared solution. In practice, it involves people who use services being consulted, included and working together from the start to the end of any project that affects them.

A way of working whereby citizens and decision makers, or people who use services, family carers and service providers work together to create a decision or service which works for them all.

The approach is value-driven and built on the principle that those who use a service are best placed to help design it.

A relationship where professionals and citizens share power to plan and deliver support together, recognising that both have vital contributions to make in order to improve quality of life for people and communities.

Definitions and language are important. But the move toward co-production needs to be more than just a change in words, because there is a danger of assuming that the right words will be followed by the right actions. Real change is accompanied by a movement of resources to people who draw on care and support and to frontline staff.

There is a difference between co-production and involvement: involvement means being consulted, while co-production means being equal partners and co-creators.

Co-production has been broken down into the following activities:

co-design, including planning of services

co-decision making in the allocation of resources

co-delivery of services, including the role of volunteers in providing the service

co-evaluation of the service.

It can also be useful to think about there being various levels of co-production. For example:

Transformative co-production

There are a number of things we can say with certainty that transformative co-production is about:

professionals and people who draw on care and support work in equal partnerships towards shared goals

there is a movement from involvement and participation towards people who draw on care and support and carers having an equal, more meaningful and more powerful role in services

people who draw on care and support and carers participate in all aspects of a service - the planning, development and actual delivery of the service

power and resources are transferred from managers to people who draw on care and support and carers

the assets of people who draw on care and support, carers and staff are valued

it is recognised that if someone contributes, they should get something back in exchange.

Principles of co-production

The principles of equality, diversity, accessibility and reciprocity (or getting something back for putting something in) are critical values for putting co-production into practice. Acting in accordance with these principles helps to make co-production as inclusive as possible, and demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity shows that co-production is genuine, or authentic.

Equality - everyone has assets

Co-production starts from the idea that no one group or person is more important than any other group or person. So, everyone is equal and everyone has assets to bring to the process. Assets refer to skills, abilities, time and other qualities that people have. This is different from approaches that focus on people's difficulties and what they cannot do.

Much of the writing on co-production focuses on the need to recognise the assets of people who draw on care and support and others in the community. However, the assets that workers, practitioners, managers and other professionals bring to the process also need to be recognised.

Equality can only be achieved with a shift in power towards people who draw on care and support and carers.

For a culture of equality to be fostered, everyone involved in co-production will need to get to know each other. Sometimes, a commitment to equality can be put to one side because of the urgency to get things done. This danger can be guarded against by good planning.

There can also be complexities around this issue because of the unequal power relationships between professionals and people who draw on care and support, and between people who draw on care and support themselves.

It can take time and patience to address these issues. Training and support will be a key part of achieving this. If people who draw on care and support are brought into the process without this support, they will be at a disadvantage in their relationships with professionals.

Experienced and well-trained people who draw on care and support bring a lot of value to co-production, particularly in terms of more equal and potentially more challenging relationships with professionals. This can sometimes lead to them being dismissed as 'the usual suspects.' However, they do have the capacity to make a particular contribution to the leadership of co-production initiatives.

The principle of equality and recognising that everyone brings assets to co-production that should be used and valued, provides the basis for a balanced approach to this issue. If everyone is treated as equal in the process of co-production, greater experience or expertise should not mean greater power. So, no one group (professionals, experienced or less experienced people who draw on care and support and carers) should have a greater role to play.

Diversity

It follows from the principle of equality that diversity and inclusion are important values in co-production. Co-production should be as inclusive as possible. This can be challenging but it is important that co-production projects are pro-active about diversity.

It has been found in work on the involvement and participation of people who draw on care and support that some groups are under-represented or excluded from such work, and this is likely to apply equally to co-production.

People who draw on care and support can be excluded because of equalities issues or because of the nature of their difficulties. The main groups likely to experience exclusion are:

people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

people from LGBT+ communities

people who communicate differently

people with dementia

older people who need a high level of support

people who are not affiliated to any organised group or 'community'.

Where a person lives can also be a barrier to participation: people living in residential homes, homeless people, Gypsy and Traveller communities and people in prison experience exclusion on this basis.

When thinking about diversity, it is important to remember that people are not 'just one thing'.

Accessibility

Access needs to be recognised as a fundamental principle of co-production as the process needs to be accessible if everyone is going to take part on an equal basis. Accessibility is about ensuring that everyone has the same opportunity to take part in an activity fully, in the way that suits them best.

As well as physical access, making sure that information is accessible and that it is provided in appropriate formats is a key part of making sure that everyone can take part in co-production.

Some language can be problematic because it involves jargon that is inaccessible. And it is particularly important that everyone involved understands the term co-production itself in the same way. Getting the language right so that everyone understands each other is essential.

There is also a broader issue about all information being available and shared. All parties need to have enough information to take part in co-production and decision making. There may be issues around confidentiality and information sharing, which will need to be resolved for co-production to be successful.

Another important aspect of accessibility is time and timing, which can be overlooked. The impact of time on co-production and the need to allow time for co-production to develop are important issues.

Reciprocity - getting something back for putting something in

'Reciprocity' is a key concept in co-production. It has been defined as ensuring that people receive something back for putting something in, and builds on people's desire to feel needed and valued. The idea has been linked to 'mutuality' and all parties involved having responsibilities and expectations. Putting reciprocity into practice can help to create a sense of togetherness.

The word 'reciprocity' may be considered as jargon when discussing co-production. It may not seem particularly accessible, but there is not another word that fully captures what it means.

Co-production and the Care Act 2014

The Care Act 2014 is a one of the first pieces of UK legislation to include the concept of co-production in its statutory guidance.

The Care Act's statutory guidance says:

Local authorities should, where possible, actively promote participation in providing interventions that are co-produced with individuals, families, friends, carers and the community.

"Co-production" is when an individual influences the support and services received, or when groups of people get together to influence the way that services are designed, commissioned and delivered.

This definition is not as helpful as other definitions, as it only talks about people who draw on care and support influencing - rather than collaborating with - professionals in equal partnerships.

However, it is positive that it emphasises the range of activities that can include co-production. It makes clear that it is primarily people who draw on care and support, carers and the community that should be involved in co-production.

Co-production is also referred to at a number of points in the statutory guidance, in relation to information and advice; prevention; assessment; market shaping; strengths-based approaches; and developing local strategies and plans.

Co-production is an important way of achieving the overarching aims of the Care Act including prevention, wellbeing and the focus on outcomes. It should be a consideration in all aspects of implementing the Act. For example, co-production can help to ensure that advocacy services meet the requirements of the Act.

The link with personalisation

Co-production has developed over a similar time period as ideas around services that are person-centred or tailored to the needs of the individual. And some have said that co-production is essential to making services more personalised.

Approaches developed by disabled people and the independent living movement have become central to social care services, with person-centred planning developing into personalisation. The development of personalised services has seen governments commit themselves to involving people more directly in service provision as well as taking responsibility for costs and risks. Various initiatives in England and Wales have emphasised the need for people to be able to choose and manage how their needs for support are met.

People who draw on care and support and carers being part of the co-production of the service they receive on an individual basis is a prominent feature of personalisation. Examples of this include direct payments and individual budgets. They draw a distinction between individual co-production and collective co-production where people work together on community issues.

Economics of co-production

Organisations, programmes and projects that use co-production have a complex and dynamic nature, which makes it difficult to assess their costs and benefits.

Evaluations of co-production tend to focus on how people have participated, and on their experiences, rather than on economic costs and benefits.

The costs of co-production

Issues around the costs of co-production can be complicated. While there is some evidence that it can reduce costs, the available evidence is inconclusive. This may be something that varies between different organisations and different projects.

Co-production may lead to short-term increases in the use of services and other costs as it increases people's knowledge of and access to services.

Potential savings

One of the key arguments about the economic benefits of co-production is the potential returns from a perspective that focuses on prevention, and on early intervention when people's needs arise rather than letting them get worse. So, if there is investment in community services, this means that people are less likely to need more expensive services (such as crisis and emergency services) later on. This will reduce the cost of acute services.

Other points to note about co-production and costs are:

Co-production may lead to some costs being reduced and others increased.

It may only be possible to know whether co-production is cost-effective by looking at things over a period of time. If it is cost-effective, it will have reduced the number of inefficient, ineffective and unwanted services.

There will be costs associated with engaging with services and projects.

It might be found during the co-production process that more spending is needed in some areas.

Economic evaluations of direct payments, individual budgets and personal health budgets have shown that they are cost-effective. Giving people who draw on care and support and carers more control over those services can improve their health and wellbeing. But it is important to provide more support in the form of information, advice and advocacy.

The benefits of co-production

Co-production approaches can bring a range of benefits and improvements for all concerned. Ensuring that everyone involved has a shared understanding of what benefits are expected from co-production is important to the success of the initiative.

Potential benefits from co-production can be divided into two types - instrumental and intrinsic benefits:

Professionals collaborating with communities and people who draw on care and support are likely to have a stronger focus on the outcomes of the support provided when they are co-producing, and potentially a greater focus on prevention. So, there are improved outcomes for people who draw on care and support as a result.

The contribution that co-production makes to developing social networks and communities is another benefit. It has been argued that this only happens where there is collective co-production with groups and communities and not where co-production is confined to individuals being involved in the services they receive.

Why does co-production lead to improved outcomes?

Evidence shows that incorporating co-production principles into programmes for people with long-term conditions can help them to gain knowledge, learn skills and adopt behaviours that are thought to be important in achieving better health and wellbeing.

How to do co-production

This section does not offer a step-by-step guide to doing co-production, as effective approaches will vary according to circumstances, but it gives guidance on key issues that need to be addressed to put co-production in organisations and projects into action. It uses a jigsaw model for the management of change.

The four pieces of the jigsaw are:

1. Culture - the beliefs and values that define an organisation and the way that it works

2. Structure - the way the organisation is arranged and the systems it has set up to conduct its work

3. Practice - how the organisation and the people who work for it conduct their work

4. Review - monitoring how the work is conducted and the outcomes or impacts that result from the work.

This is a 'whole systems approach' that SCIE originally adopted for participation because:

organisations must change at every level - from senior management to frontline staff - if they want to achieve meaningful participation

participation should become part of daily practice - and not be a one-off activity

participation operates at different levels as there are many ways to involve people who draw on care and support in different types of decisions.

SCIE sees the jigsaw model as a useful way to approach co-production and has used it for its own co-production strategy.

Culture

Organisational culture is the collection of values, expectations, and practices that guide and inform the actions of everyone involved in an organisation, and it is key to determining whether co-production can take root. Co-production thrives in a culture that is transparent, open to change and comfortable with well-managed risk.

A change in culture may be necessary if there is to be progress with co-production. There needs to be a move from delivering services to facilitating services and from facilitating to enabling, rather than a one-way process of providing care.

A range of cultural issues need to be thought about so that professionals can successfully co-produce both with people who draw on care and support and carers. The issues range from ownership of the project throughout the whole organisation to valuing the skills and assets of everyone involved. The culture of the organisation also needs to embrace the key principles of co-production.

A culture of risk awareness Open

A culture of risk awareness in terms of co-production means:

being aware of risk

taking managed and planned approaches to risks

being prepared for anything that may go wrong by thinking things through in advance

Recommendations - culture in co-production

Ensure that co-production runs through the culture of an organisation.

Ensure that this culture is built on a shared understanding of what co-production is, a set of principles for putting the approach into action and the benefits and outcomes that will be achieved with the approach.

Ensure that organisations develop a culture of being risk aware rather than risk averse.

Structure

Thinking about structure involves considering how an organisation or initiative is arranged. This includes looking at:

decision-making structures

leadership

the way the organisation plans and develops projects

resources.

It is particularly important to change the systems and structures of an organisation so that it can support co-production. Examples of the types of structural changes that might be required are:

new goals

revisions to staff roles

developing support networks

new management structures

revised procedures for commissioning.

This may be particularly challenging for large organisations as co-production puts an emphasis on personal relationships. Organisations will need to move away from centralised and hierarchical structures (where power remains in the hands of very few people) so that they can support co-production.

Building on existing structures and resources Open

Developing a co-productive approach does not necessarily mean starting from nothing. There may be an opportunity to build on existing cultures, structures and practices.

The most successful co-production may come from building on the resources already in the community. Outreach work is a way of identifying and building community links.

Structures for valuing and rewarding people Open

It has been recognised for a long time that payments to people who draw on care and support and carers for taking part in activities such as co-production can be problematic. This is mainly because of the impact of rules and regulations around welfare benefits. SCIE has produced a guide to paying people in receipt of benefits.

Rewarding people for getting involved in co-production activities is clearly important. But there is also a need to recognise the other benefits that people who draw on care and support and carers can gain from the experience of co-production. For example, being part of an organisation that is led by people who draw on care and support is a positive experience. It contributes to a sense of shared identity and purpose. And it also improves the outcomes of a project.

If people who draw on care and support and carers understand the benefits of co-production this is likely to encourage them to take part. This may be especially helpful in projects where it is not possible to offer direct financial rewards.

Professionals also gain from the experience of being involved in co-production. Professionals often say that working in a co-productive way is more satisfying and rewarding.

Structures for communication Open

Accessible communication needs to be supported by strategies that are flexible and use a range of different approaches to communication. This will ensure that people have as much opportunity to take part as possible.

The importance of relationships in co-production suggests that personal contacts and 'word of mouth' (people telling other people about something) may have a particularly important role in the co-production process.

Social media have potential for supporting co-production. For example, it can help to overcome the barriers that people face in accessing information and services. It can also provide new ways of influencing public awareness and policy. But there needs to be a focus on the media that most people are likely to use. When organisations and projects think about how they are going to communicate with people, they need to make sure they take a balanced approach.

Recommendations - structure in co-production

Involve everyone who will be taking part in the co-production process from the start.

Value and reward people who take part in the co-production process.

Ensure that there are resources to cover the cost of co-production activities.

Ensure that co-production is supported by a strategy that describes how discussions and decisions are going to be communicated.

Build on existing structures and resources.

Practice

Making co-production happen in practice is about all those who participate in the process - who may have different points of view - working together to achieve agreed aims. This means building relationships.

But there can be difficulties in the relationships between the people who draw on care and support and professionals working in services.

It is important to make sure that people who draw on care and support attend all co-production meetings. This will help new working relationships to develop. It will also help with the shift in power that is involved in co-production. It is also helpful if people who draw on care and support are given opportunities to meet on their own to talk about and agree their priorities.

The relationships involved in co-production need to be based on trust and confidence. The success of co-production is likely to be based on the people involved and their relationships. Success needs to be defined in terms of achieving the long-term goals of co-production as a means of creating better services, which are more responsive to the needs of people who draw on care and support, with understanding that there may be some mistakes along the way.

Access Open

Access is a key issue in supporting equality. Co-production cannot happen if processes and practices are not accessible.

It is important that information is accessible. It is also important that meeting places are accessible. But this accessibility needs to flow through the entire process of the meeting. People need to be able to easily prepare for, get to and be heard at meetings and events. They then need to be able to follow progress through minutes and reports.

SCIE has produced a thorough guide to holding accessible meetings and events.

Building community capacity Open

Taking action to develop or use the capacity of the people living in a particular area is crucial to the success of co-production.

The need to build the capacity for co-production links to issues of funding and making sure that user-controlled and community organisations have enough resources to actively support co-production. Working with organisations run by people who draw on care and support is essential to co-production and the empowerment of people who draw on care and support.

It may be useful to map the assets and resources in a community rather than just looking at problems and needs. Where a community does not have the capacity to develop co-production, it would be necessary to identify exactly what capacities are needed and how they can be developed.

Commissioning Open

Commissioning (the process of buying services from other organisations or people not directly employed by the commissioner) is recognised as a key part of the co-production approach.

For co-production to be successful, organisations need to change their systems for commissioning. This involves developing approaches that recognise the social, economic and environmental impact of commissions. It also involves moving to commissioning based on outcomes rather than outputs (outcomes describe the changes a service delivers to the lives of people, while outputs say how many people are helped). This can present problems for commissioners because outcomes can be difficult to measure.

Commissioners should be encouraged to embrace the approach of including co-production in the commissioning process and including it in the services they commission. Co-producing the commissioning process means people who draw on care and support, and wider communities, being part of decision making. Commissioning co-productive services is achieved by awarding contracts for services to suppliers that use co-productive approaches.

Guidance has also been produced on how local authorities can develop stronger links with the communities they serve through strategic commissioning. This includes:

using more flexible contracts

developing 'localist' agendas that recognise the value of supporting local providers

using value tests to assess whether contracts are delivering on the criteria established when they were awarded and then renegotiating the contracts where appropriate.

As noted above, organisations run by people who draw on care and support (often referred to as user-led or user-controlled organisations) and carers have a key role in co-production.

Recommendations - co-production in practice

Ensure that everything in the co-production process is accessible to everyone taking part and nobody is excluded.

Ensure that everyone involved has enough information to take part in co-production and decision making.

Ensure that everyone involved is trained in the principles and values of co-production and any skills they will need for the work they do.

Ensure that frontline staff are given the opportunity to work using co-production approaches, with time, resources and flexibility.

Provide any support that is necessary to make sure that the community involved has the capacity to be part of the co-production process.

Ensure that policies and procedures promote the commissioning of services which use co-production approaches.

Ensure that there are policies for co-production in the actual process of commissioning.

Review

Co-production should not be seen as a one-off activity. Successful co-production will introduce changes to systems that will lead to the ongoing review, development and delivery of new forms of support. Co-production therefore benefits from a culture of continuous learning about what has worked and what has not worked.

Review is a key part of the management of any organisational change. It is important for:

monitoring progress

marking the achievements and/or milestones that have been reached

identifying areas where improvements can be made to the process or outcomes enhanced.

Review and evaluation are an essential part of any co-production initiative and should be conducted with people who draw on care and support. Review and evaluation may focus, for example, on a particular service or project, on a developing programme of co-production, or on annual performance of an organisation in relation to its ongoing commitment to co-production.

It is important to 'measure what matters.' Better outcomes for people who draw on care and support, and carers, are a key aim of co-productive approaches, so these should be evaluated. The contribution a project or initiative makes to developing innovative approaches should also be considered.

Evaluation should also focus on the actual difference that co-production makes to people's lives.

Regular reviews Open

It is helpful to regularly review the aims of co-production and the principles being used to achieve those aims.

Regular co-production audits could be introduced that look at:

how to do co-production

the co-production process itself and how well everyone works together

social, wellbeing and environmental outcomes

the full costs and benefits, including added value such as the benefits of reciprocity.

Co-production of reviews and evaluations Open

Co-producing a project review with people who draw on care and support has a powerful effect on all aspects of the project. And it helps the project to focus on the experiences and expectations of everyone involved, adding authenticity to the reporting of the findings of the project.

Evaluations of co-production projects should themselves be co-produced.

Recommendations - reviewing co-production

Conduct regular reviews to ensure that co-production is making a real difference and that the process is following the agreed principles.

Co-produce reviews and evaluations.

Use the review findings to improve ways of applying the principles of co-production, so that continuous learning is taking place.

During reviews and evaluations, work with people who draw on care and support and carers, to think about ways of showing the impact that co-production has, as well as the processes that are involved.

Practice examples

View practice examples from a range of organisations and projects working with different people in different contexts, including organisations that provide social care and support, and organisations and projects that have taken co-productive approaches to benefitting citizens in other areas.
View: Co-production practice examples

Support from SCIE

Improve co-production with people who use services and carers to develop and deliver better social care and health provision. Find out more about SCIE's co-production work and our consultancy and improvement support service. If you would like to talk to our team about how we can help, please complete our enquiry form.

Download

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Available downloads:

Co-production: what it is and how to do it

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working with people who use services and carers

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Co-production in social care: what it is and how to do it (Guide)

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Updated: July 2022 Who the guide is for Open managers and commissioners frontline practitioners people who draw on care and support Evidence used for the guide Open The guide is based on co-produced guidance that was originally produced by SCIE in October 2013 and updated in October 2015.

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Learning and Resources | Co-Production Collective

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Co-design is designing with, not for. It's about making things and learning together.

Co-design is a movement, mindset (read more) and an expanding set of methods and tools.

Co-design challenges the power of individuals who make important decisions about others' lives, livelihoods and bodies. Often with little to no involvement of the people who those decisions will most impact. Co-design is about working with the people closest to the solutions, prioritising relationships, being honest, making sure people feel welcome, using creative tools, balancing idealism and realism, building and sharing skills. Co-design uses inclusive facilitation that welcomes and works with many ways of knowing, being and doing.

Co-design has a 'co' bit (e.g. community, co-operation) and a 'design' bit. Both bits (community and design) are important but neither have all the answers.

There are many histories and many practices of co-design.

What are the principles for co-design?

There are many ways to work together. Here are four principles for effective co-design.

We believe the principles for co-design also matter for other 'co' things, too: planning, delivery and evaluation
(Figure 2).

How can I tell if it's co-design?

Ask these questions to determine if something is co-design. And know that because something isn't co-design doesn't automatically make it less useful, inclusive or worthwhile.

Co-design isn't the only way or always the best way.

How is co-design different from other approaches?

There are lots of different ways to work together. Co-design and human-centred design aren't the same.
If you're not doing co-design, don't say that you are.
The table below describes different design and participation approaches. We say who gets a say and who doesn't. We can design at people, for people, with people - or be led by.

These things are transactional at best, harmful, degrading and violent at worst

Approach

Keywords

Where power is held

Designing at people

Designer, professional or policy-maker as expert, top-down decision-making

Designing at people is about what decision-makers and designers think and want.

Designing for people

Design thinking, anything 'centred' e.g. human-centred (HCD), user-centred (UCD), patient-centred, citizen-centred design etc.

Designing for people is about what designers and decision-makers want to know and achieve. Good intent usually ends up as system-centred, designer-centred, executive-centred or staff-centred by implementation.

These things are transformational at best, however they are not inherently inclusive or equitable

Designing with people and planet

Co-design, participatory design, deliberative democracy

Designing with people is about what matters to people with lived experience and decision-makers (co-decided).

Led by the people

Co-production, community-led design, citizen movements, design justice*

Led by the people is about what people, families and communities want for themselves.

Kelly Ann McKercher, 2020

*As described in the Design Justice Principles and Design Justice by Sasha Costanza-Chock.

What is the 'social movement' part of co-design?

To make co-design a reality, we need systems, organisations and communities to embrace the leadership and contributions of people with lived experience. Doing that requires different ways of thinking and being, which are missing from many teams, organisations and systems. The table below describes several social movements that are necessary to make co-design a reality and a norm.

Making decisions for people with lived experience

Making decisions with people with lived experience

Valuing professional expertise above all

Valuing professional and lived experience equally

Seeing marginalised people as a burden

Seeing marginalised people as resilient, creative and capable

Colonising, heteronormative and ableist systems

Compassionate systems that see and respond to dimensions of difference

Believing that resources are scarce to make change

Seeing an abundance of experience, ideas and energy for change

Focusing on 'consumer' councils and committees

Embedding participation in everyday practice

Rushing to solutions

Slowing down to listen, connect and learn

McKercher, K. A. (2020). Beyond Sticky Notes. Doing Co-design for real: mindsets, methods and movements.

What are the conditions for co-design?

Co-design can be derailed through a lack of sponsorship, resources or a lack of broader organisational or community commitment. Here are some conditions that can support co-design.

We need people to endorse and reinforce the approach we're taking and the outcomes we want to achieve. Sponsors and supporters help to build commitment, remove obstacles and overcome resistance as and when it arises.

To do co-design we need time and money for:
Facilitation and convening (co-design is not free)
Paying people with lived experience for their time and for any expenses
Investing in approaches (after they have been co-designed)
Supporting lived experience capability and leadership
Prototyping, testing and learning (prior to implementation)
Communicating the work throughout to build commitment

3 Culture and climate

4 Commitments

Supportive culture and climate includes:
Authorising environments from formal and informal leaders
A focus on learning not control
Connective tissue to share learning, failure, success
Support to adopt the mindsets, especially when we regress to old ways of being
Support to develop the skillsets for co-design
Accountability to the people we engage through
co-design (they can call us out)

Commitment to co-design looks like:
Focusing on outcomes (value) over outputs (busyness)
Following through into implementation
Staying committed to elevating the voice and contribution of lived experience
Practising cultural intelligence and widening inclusion
Partnering, not parenting
Sharing decision making, power and attribution
Value and reciprocity with co-designers

Kelly Ann McKercher, 2020

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What is co-design? - Beyond Sticky Notes

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Co-design is a movement, mindset (read more) and an expanding set of methods and tools. Co-design challenges the power of individuals who make important decisions about others' lives, livelihoods and bodies. Often with little to no involvement of the people who those decisions will most impact.

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Pecyn gwybodaeth Information pack - updated

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This form can be used by any service, practitioners and volunteers who support young people 11-25 who would like to gain access to support (advice, guidance, consultation) from Mind Our Future Change Enablers. The main aim of their role is to respond to what young people have shared (in the first year) to increase their resilience as to ensure a mentally healthy and sustainable future.

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Easily create surveys and polls to collect customer feedback, measure employee satisfaction, and organize team events.

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QRCode for Mind Our Future Young Leader Interest Form 

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We are an Agored Cymru accredited centre.

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Follow us on Facebook

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Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd a Môn / Gwynedd and Anglesey Mind Our Futures | Llangefni

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Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd a Môn / Gwynedd and Anglesey Mind Our Futures, Llangefni. 222 likes · 12 talking about this. Beth yw Meddwl Ymlaen Gwynedd ac Ynys Môn - Mae Meddwl Ymlaen yn rhaglen grantiau…

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The NEST framework is a planning tool for:

Welsh Government

Regional Partnership Boards

local authorities

health boards

voluntary sector

It aims to ensure a whole system approach for developing mental health, wellbeing and support services for:

We worked with a number of stakeholders to co-produce the framework, including:

children and young people

parents and carers

health and social care professionals

educational institutions

third sector service providers

Watch our video for an overview of the NEST framework, why it is needed and what it aims to achieve:

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NEST framework (mental health and wellbeing): introduction

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An introduction to the NEST framework for improving mental health and wellbeing services for babies, children, young people and their families.

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UNCRC Incorporation Celebration Activty Pack (002)

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

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Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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Hello! I'm Beca, and I'm the Voice and Inclusion worker for the Mind our Future project.