12 May 2022 by Helen Sturman

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. …

Co-production, Community Based, Community Development, Community Engagement, Guest Blog, Voluntary Sector

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7 April 2022 by Mel Parks

Not Another Co-Production Festival

It’s almost one year since we began our Not Another Co-Production Project and it’s time to celebrate all the amazing work that’s been happening with our partner organisations in Greater Manchester. And to help us celebrate, we’d like to invite you to join us at our Not Another Co-Production Festival! The first of its kind anywhere. We are working with…

Co-production, Collaboration, Collective Power, Community Based, Community Development, Community Engagement, Event, Social Action, Voluntary Sector

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3 February 2022 by Neil Denton

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.

Collaboration, Collective Power, Community Based, Community Development, Coronavirus Crisis, Lived Experience

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20 January 2022 by Lauren Wallace-Thompson

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.

Co-production, Collaboration, Community Based, Community Development, Learning Disabilities, Participation, Uncategorised

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9 December 2021 by Isaac Samuels

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.

Alliance, Co-production, Community Development, Community Engagement, Leadership, Lived Experience, Storytelling, Systems Change

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25 November 2021 by Immy Robinson

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?

Citizen-led Action, Community Based, Community Development, Community Engagement, Coronavirus Crisis, Covid Considerations, Guest Blog, Research, Social Action, Social Movement

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14 October 2021 by Ben Andrews

Beyond Empower: supporting healthy, active lives for disabled people by transforming mainstream spaces and services

In this guest blog, Beyond Empower founder Ben Andrews tells us about their work to transform mainstream spaces, communities and leisure services so that they're accessible to people with disabilities. By thinking differently about the barriers, Beyond Empower help providers, councils and businesses create services that everyone in the community can access and enjoy.

Asset Based, Co-design, Commissioning, Community Based, Community Development, Disability, Guest Blog, Health, Inequalities, Integrated Services, Social Enterprise, Systems Change, Wellbeing

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26 August 2021 by Lauren Wallace-Thompson

Doing digital arts differently: St. Helens Libraries and Ideas Alliance’s action research

Find out more about this "learning by doing" project, where the team worked collaboratively with artists, makers, library staff, residents and more to innovate and test ways to help digital arts thrive in St. Helens.

Arts, Children and Young People, Co-design, Community Based, Community Development, Community Engagement, Digital, Education, Research, Technology

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5 August 2021 by Rachel Berry

Community building with refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

Read about how the idea of a handwritten "letter fae a local" has sparked a huge community endeavour to welcome and embrace asylum seekers and refugees in Glasgow. In the face of attacks on the rights of asylum seekers, these community-led organisations are trying to support new arrivals and connect them with their neighbours.

Charity, Citizen-led Action, Community Based, Community Development

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7 January 2021 by Rachel Berry

Inverclyde Shed: improving wellbeing, tackling social isolation and reducing waste

We learn about a group helping older men talk and connect whilst maintaining repair skills and how members co-design and influence the design and development of the Shed.

Community Development, Loneliness, Older People

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