Looking Back, Moving Forward: Stories From Covid Times

In autumn 2021, Dudley Council commissioned the Ideas Alliance to help them get a better understanding of how the pandemic had impacted on people’s lives, in order to inform priorities for the future. The brief included the use of storytelling and one requested outcome was a visual representation of the experiences of the people of Dudley.
Measuring Impact: the Winning Hearts and Minds Way

Winning Hearts and Minds is a joined-up approach in north Manchester to improve people’s long-term heart and mental health by stepping outside the traditional approaches to health improvement. They share their ethos on measuring impact.
Spread the Word – West Midlands next for Not Another Co-Production Project!

Following a brilliant first year full of ups, downs and lots of learning together in Manchester, we are ready to begin year two of our lottery funded three-year Not Another Co-Production project in partnership with People’s Voice Media. We are on the hunt for at least 12 organisations across the West Midlands to partner with from autumn 2022 to summer 2023.
Rebuilding Community Connections with Not Another Co-Production Project

Helen Sturman, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Area Development Manager for Parkinson’s UK, shares her experience of being new in the job when joining Not Another Co-Production Project. She outlines the importance of flexibility when rebuilding community connections with people with long-term health conditions, and how co-production values the range of life experiences, knowledge and skills that people can bring.
Not Another Co-Production Festival Manchester: Coming Soon

Ideas Alliance host the first ever Not Another Co-Production Festival at The Science Museum in Manchester. For people who draw on care or support, service providers and community partners.
When the waters recede, the flood has not finished

Neil Denton explores his lived experience of working with disaster-affected communities, relates this journey to the Covid-19 pandemic and considers a recovery based on connection, collaboration and trust.
100 Day Challenge: re-thinking day opportunities for people with learning disabilities in Greenwich

Supporting collaboration and innovation between the council, people with learning disabilities and their families, providers and supporters to kickstart change in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, London.
We need to talk about “lived experience”

Lived experience is essential to co-production, but do we treat those who share their stories with us ethically? True co-production needs long-term thinking, proper support and the creation of opportunities for people who have experienced multiple disadvantage, argues co-production advisor Isaac Samuels in this powerful guest blog.
Understanding the 9 million active neighbours of lockdown

The coronavirus crisis saw a huge movement of community activity and support. Immy Robinson, co-lead of the Relationships Project, shares their research about what made people come together. How we can support the different types of active neighbour with an ecology that enables community activity to thrive?