Healthy Neighbourhoods programme

Q: Toolkit and Quick Guide: How to empower local people and support co-production

Together with our grassroots community groups, we have developed a Toolkit and Quick Guide: 'How to empower local people and support co-production'. This guide aims to improve and increase involvement of Voluntary and Community Sector grassroots groups and residents in health and wellbeing activities. Click here to read digitally or request a hard copy here

Q: What do we mean by co-production

To tackle health inequalities we must share power more equally between those who provide services and people with a lived experience of the challenges facing us in the community. Co-production and community empowerment values technical expertise and cultural understanding, where everyone's skills and personal resources are respected and put to use. We go beyond asking for ideas, experience and opinions; co-production requires collective actions that are inclusive and reciprocal from start to finish. We work with experts by experience, and professionals to influence, participate, and lead services. From co-designing solutions that reflect the needs in the community, to supporting co-implementation and co-governance of activities, and sharing the responsibility of evaluating the impact of our work. We encourage the organisations and institutions we support and partner with to embed co-production values and practices in their work. Ref: SCIE, July 2022 Co-production: what it is and how to do it | SCIE 'Co-production is not just a word, it is not just a concept, it is a meeting of minds coming together to find shared solutions.’ (SCIE, July 2022)

Through the Healthy Neighbourhoods programme, Bridge Renewal Trust are working in collaboration with the local NHS (North Central London ICB), Haringey Council, Public Voice, and a range of residents, local VCS and grassroots groups. We are working together to improve health in our neighbourhoods in a fair and inclusive way.

Through community empowerment and engagement, our approach is based on:

better understanding of (often under-served) communities
meaningful co-design and co-production
early help and community based support
embedding a strengths-based approach and bringing teams together to offer integrated support.

The Healthy Neighbourhoods programme aims to improve inequalities in health, well-being, and life chances of people living in the most deprived and diverse neighbourhoods in east Haringey. Community empowerment and co-production are playing a crucial part in that work.