A network for co-production practitioners

co-production and social care

Hi everyone,

New to this network, having joined on behalf of Esgyn, a support provider based in Swansea. As director, I want to take the organisation forward on the basis of co-production and mutuality. I am interested in how we transform public services in order to embrace this; how do I change the way we run our services and engage with commissioners and practitioners? How do we re-negotiate our relationships with the people we support? What does mutuality mean within a sector that has come to be structured and defined along the lines of power? All big questions I know!

In practice, we are embarking into the world of social enterprise and mutual benefit with local business. To be specific we are planning to develop a local allotment project into an enterprise involving local people, green grocer outlets and other partners to create opportunities for exchange, including work opportunities, financial income, skills development and relationship building.

(green) fingers crossed!

Any wisdom or contacts among you would be greatly appreciated.

Simon

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Noreen Blanluet on April 27, 2013 at 11:16

Hi Simon, a very warm welcome to the network and to the group! Delighted to have you on board.

Big, juicy questions indeed - and brilliant project. Please do come to the next meeting of the group, date to be announced soon, sometime in June I believe (but don't quote me on that anyone - I have just got back to my desk and am still getting back up to speed!)

There will be a space in the agenda for the meeting to be opened up to the floor, and for whoever wishes to, to briefly share or present a project, development or update. If you'd like to do that, that would be fab!

All the best,

Noreen

Permalink Reply by Rick Wilson on April 30, 2013 at 15:38

Hello Simon

As a fellow Swansea organisation Community Lives Consortium would also like to welcome you to this network, your questions are very significant for us also, we would welcome the opportunity to explore them with you together.

Thanks Rick

Permalink Reply by Ruth Dineen on April 30, 2013 at 16:49

Hi Simon

Just checked out your website and you sound fab! I was about to suggest that you get in touch with the equally fab Rick Wilson and then I noticed that Rick has replied already.

Re the allotment project, might be worth contacting Dawn Davies who has instigated a food-box project in Blaengarw. And Professor Kevin Morgan of Cardiff Uni is a specialist on food and localism (among other things). Ben Dineen used to run a 'green valley' project in Bryncynon - not strictly a co-pro initiative but he might have some ideas to share.