Title image: Learning from experience

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Introduction to Section 1 What is co-production? Why co-production? Participation and co-production What does co-production look like?
Introduction to Section 2 How to start co-production Methods and techniques Spotlight on lived experience panels Spotlight on facilitation techniques Supporting people in co-production
Introduction to section 3 Advocating for co-production The policy context Frameworks and tools
Introduction to Section 4 Reflecting, evaluating and learning Tips and helpful resources for evaluation

It is important to recognise and understand that there is no such thing as ‘perfect’ co-production.

What there is, and what we have tried to illustrate through this Guide, are many examples of people aiming to improve their practice and learn from both their successes and their failures.

This self-reflection is an important part of how practice is developed and improved - whether that’s self-reflection about how your own work, or the activity as a whole. Self-reflective practice can be something quite personal, but with co-production it’s also something that impacts the wider process by informing how relationships are forged and decisions made.

When it goes wrong

We think it’s also important to acknowledge that things might not go perfectly, or even where they’ve not turned out well at all. Co-production is hard. It doesn’t happen without ups and downs. So, being open and honest about where things haven’t gone right is the best way to learn, and use this learning to improve for the next time - as difficult as that might be.

We’ve seen this open and honest reflection in the recent Power Project where it was acknowledged that the co-productive process fell short of expectations. With mutual relationships at the core of co-production, and as with all relationships, they’re founded on trust and respect - if that breaks down it can be hard to build them back up. But, what’s crucial, is that there are supportive and open environments for these self-reflective discussions take place.

That’s why we’ve centred this final section around learning from experience. We will help you to reflect on your own (and your partners’) practice in co-production through a process of reflection, evaluation and learning.