Challenges of co-production in focus, as a new Co-production Guide is published
/This article was featured in the SCDC Weekly - 20th November 2024.
As the public and third sectors face an increasingly difficult funding environment, a new article has outlined some of the challenges of carrying out co-production during this time - with a new Co-production Guide setting out some possible solutions.
The article, published during Co-production Week Scotland, explores how with resources scarce, there are significant challenges when trying to deliver co-production and other types of participative work: a struggle for time and resource; a lack of trust and good relationships; burnout; and a lack of engagement.
One solution – and the theme for Co-pro Week – is moving towards embedding co-production as the way we work in Scotland. Usually, we see elements of co-production employed, or used on a project-by-project basis, reflecting the challenges of taking co-production to this level, and how much time it can take.
By embedding co-production, built on the community development foundations of shared power, participation, and equality, we could see ‘doing with, not to’ lead to better services, support and outcomes.
Achieving that ambition is a significant challenge itself, so a new Co-production Guide has been published. The guide sets out what co-production is, how to put it into practice, where to start with embedding it, and how we learn from our experience.
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