This blog is the second in our co-production workshop blog series. If you want to read the first blog about how and why we ran the co-production workshops, click here.
In this post, we want to share the experiences of those who attended our co-production workshops.
This blog is the second in our co-production workshop blog series. If you want to read the first blog about how and why we ran the co-production workshops, click here.
In this post, we want to share the experiences of those who attended our co-production workshops.
A summary of the co-production workshops
We hosted three workshops as part of the Making Positive Moves project in June, July, and August 2024. Two of the workshops were held in person, and one was delivered online. We invited people with a learning disability, their families, and those who support them to help us develop resources based on our findings and our ‘Living My Best Life model’.
At the end of each workshop, we gathered feedback to understand what worked well and what we could improve. This was also important for capturing whether we were able to successfully incorporate the key principles underlying co-production. To do this, we used questions adapted from a resource created by NDTI (National Development Team for Inclusion).
What was it like to be part of the workshops?
An Inclusive space
We are so pleased that most participants felt included and able to contribute during the workshops. Many found the sessions welcoming and felt confident using their skills to engage in discussions. People shared that they were able to express their thoughts freely at the workshops.
“I felt listened to in the group”
“Everyone was given the opportunity to make their comments and was respected”
“I was able to discuss experiences in my group that were shared with the room.”
Accessibility challenges
While the venue was accessible for some, others had difficulty finding it. Additionally, the online workshop posed challenges for some attendees. Moving forward, we will look at ways to improve directions for in-person attendees and take steps to improve the online meeting experience if we do have online workshops in the future.
“Carpark was hard to find/not signposted”
“…preferred the in-person situation as found it hard to understand when everyone was talking”
Respect and Listening
A key strength of the workshops was the respectful and non-judgmental environment. People felt listened to and valued, which encouraged open discussions. We are committed to maintaining this supportive atmosphere in future workshops.
“Everyone was very nice and non-judgemental”
“When they hear the story I made, people were very happy and have hope. One of them came to me.”
Decision-Making and Next Steps
Participants felt they were able to make decisions within the workshop, but some were unsure about their role in the project’s ongoing decision-making process. There were concerns about ensuring all voices are represented as Making Positive Moves progresses. We understand the importance of transparency and will work on keep everyone informed and updated about outcomes and what will happen next.
“All comments were written down and nothing was rejected or ignored”
“Lots of different representation and views to include in the decision-making process. You are not going to be able to include it all so overtime some things will get lost”
Talking About What Matters
One of the most encouraging insights from the feedback was that everyone felt able to talk about issues that mattered to them and were important in their day-to-day lives. This shows that what we discussed at the workshops resonated with peoples lived experiences and felt meaningful.
“It’s our day-to-day life. Have been grappling with these issues for 25 years.”
“Transition and individual support is key, and it is required to prevent breakdown and admission, to hospital, having support to work through difficulties, build resilience and proactive planning before a crisis”
Thank You and Next Steps
We want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who took part in the workshops and shared their thoughts from both lived and learnt experiences. Your insights have been vital in shaping what comes next.
We will be posting another blog soon to share the outcomes from these workshops and the resource we have developed to support the use of the Making Positive Moves Model.
If you would like to share your views or hear more about this, please get in touch:
hello@makingpositivemoves.org
