Nothing about us without us: A co‐production strategy for communities, researchers and stakeholders to identify ways of improving health and reducing inequalities

Abstract

Introduction: Co-production with communities is increasingly seen as best practice that can improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of research and service delivery. Despite this promising position, there remains uncertainty around definitions of co-production and how to operationalize it. The current paper describes the development of a co-production strategy to guide the work of the ActEarly multistakeholder preventative research programme to improve children's health in Bradford and Tower Hamlets, UK. Methods:The strategy used Appreciative Inquiry (AI), an approach following a fivestep iterative process: to define (Step 1) scope and guide progress; to discover (Step 2) key issues through seven focus groups (N = 36) and eight in-depth interviews with key stakeholders representing community groups, and the voluntary and statutory sectors; to dream (Step 3) best practice through two workshops with AI participants to review findings; to design (Step 4) a co-production strategy building on AI findings and to deliver (Step 5) the practical guidance in the strategy.Results: Nine principles for how to do co-production well were identified: power should be shared; embrace a wide range of perspectives and skills; respect and value the lived experience; benefits should be for all involved parties; go to communities and do not expect them to come to you; work flexibly; avoid jargon and ensure availability of the right information; relationships should be built for the long-term; co-production activities should be adequately resourced.These principles were based on three underlying values of equality, reciprocity and agency. Conclusion:The empirical insights of the paper highlight the crucial importance of adequate resources and infrastructure to deliver effective co-production. This documentation of one approach to operationalizing co-production serves to avert any misappropriations of the term 'co-production' by listening to service users,

Born in Bradford’s Age of Wonder cohort: protocol for adolescent data collection

“…Co-production is at the core of the AoW, and follows the established City Collaboratory approach ( Albert et al , 2023 ; Wright et al , 2019 ) which involves researchers, practitioners, decision makers and young people working together in equal partnership.…”

Ready, set, co(produce): a co-operative inquiry into co-producing research to explore adolescent health and wellbeing in the Born in Bradford Age of Wonder project

“…Price et al [ 8 ] outline how co-production may be integrated along various parts of a research project, including setting priorities and developing research questions, building recruitment plans, piloting measures, disseminating findings, and identifying next steps. However, current understanding regarding what works for whom and in what context remains inadequate [ 20 , 21 ]. This is partly due to a lack of transparent reporting [ 21 – 25 ], highlighting a need for researchers to reflect and transparently report on their experiences carrying out co-production work, including both successes and challenges/failures [ 26 ].…”

“…In terms of co-producing research with young people, key challenges for facilitators may include (1) managing their time in order to recruit and train co-production group members [ 27 ], (2) managing the additional administrative workload associated with group development and maintenance [ 28 ], (3) training peer researchers without over-professionalising them [ 29 , 30 ], (4) developing and maintaining long-term relationships with group members and minimising dropout [ 20 , 31 ], (5) learning effective facilitator skills and making content accessible and engaging [ 28 ], (6) managing differing expectations, viewpoints and/or timelines across research and co-production groups [ 28 ], (7) having flexible working hours (i.e. evening/weekend sessions), (8) acting as a gatekeeper for co-production groups, (9) safeguarding young people and protecting them from harm [ 30 , 32 ].…”

“…AoW looks to work with schools, families, and young people to understand young people’s health and wellbeing trajectories through the sometimes tumultuous periods of adolescence and early adulthood. AoW is also entirely co-produced, following in a tradition of people-powered, co-produced research at Born in Bradford [ 20 , 34 – 36 ].…”

“…The approach to co-production in AoW is guided by the core values and key principles outlined in the ActEarly co-production strategy [ 20 , 39 ] linked to the Born in Bradford programme. The ActEarly strategy includes nine key principles acting across three core values of equality, agency, and reciprocity (see Fig.…”