Coproduction TALKING, LEARNING, SHARING - Volunteer Now

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Jun 19, 2014 - imperative and best practice in developing and implementing ... hosting a two day conference NI Conversat
Volunteer Now invites you to a roundtable discussion

Coproduction TALKING, LEARNING, SHARING – TIME FOR CHANGE? Hosted by Volunteer Now this facilitated discussion featuring the New Economics Foundation, Timebanking Wales and Queens University Belfast will examine the policy imperative and best practice in developing and implementing coproduction. Dave Wall from the Department of Social Development will lead and facilitate the discussion. This will be an opportunity for statutory and voluntary organisations to share their experiences to date and map next steps!

Date: 19th June 2014

Time: 1.00-4.00pm

Venue: Waterfront Hall, Belfast

We are delighted to be offering this in conjunction with the Development Trust NI who are hosting a two day conference NI Conversation 2014 – Making Local Work. For more details visit: http://dtni.org.uk/ About the Speakers Lucie Stephens - Lucie is the Head of Co-production at the New Economics Foundation. Her work aims to increase the amount of co-production taking place in public services in the UK and overseas. Geoff Thomas - Geoff is CEO of Timebanking Wales and has been responsible for co-developing agency time credits as a form of currency. Geoff has pioneered coproduction between Timebanking and statutory services in Wales Professor John Barry - John is Professor of Green Political Economy at the School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy at Queens University Dave Wall - Dave is Director of Policy and Communications in the Department for Social Development, he has been particularly closely involved in developing policy strategies that integrate separate business areas and work across different government departments Please confirm your attendance

Email: [email protected] Tel: Web:

028 9081 8313 http://bit.ly/1rMDHsy

Volunteer Now is supporting the development of Timebanks across Northern Ireland by providing support through training, funding, guidance and events to enable communities, individuals and organisations to become involved. We are working with a number of pilot models of Timebanks offering tailored training and support to meet participant and community need.

About Coproduction - The term co-production refers to a way of working whereby decision-makers and citizens, or service providers and users, work together to create a decision or a service which works for them all. The approach is value-driven and built on the principle that those who are affected by a service are best placed to help design it. In the first instance coproduction rejects that money and market price is the only measure of value – we need to contribute to each other as humans. Stephens (2008) argues that as a result of existing structures people feel isolated, there are low levels of trust and engagement and a lack of social infrastructure. To implement co-production a radical change in how services are delivered is required. ‘The fact that social needs continue to rise is not due to a failure to consult or conduct research. It is due to a failure to ask people for their help and to use the skills they have.’ (Boyle and Harris 2008) Findings from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation research Hidden Work (2006) found that: ‘Participants feel empowered by support from their peer groups which provides more long term support than professional support can offer.’ Participants also reported feeling a deeper understanding of what they could offer and support other people in their community could provide and as a result felt better able to ask for help when they need it. CO-PRODUCTION & INSTITUTIONS Hidden Work also finds that agencies that engage in co-production achieve their objectives more easily due to the breakdown of power differentials and the building of relationships and accessing skills of people outside the paid work of the organisation. Co-production represents a number of challenges for government including: 

Collaboration between services, their users and the public;



Collaboration between citizens and the public sector (coproduction is not about increasing consultation it is about equal partnership);



Complete a long term cost benefit analysis to demonstrate that this approach saves money;



Review the existing emphasis on risk aversion – providing people with the opportunity to take more responsibility for their support and the care of others;



Enable everyone to give their time without the risk of financial penalty.

About the Big Conversation 2014 – Making Local Work: With the NI Executive recently approving the Community Asset Transfer strategy, the policy focus puts enterprise, assets, ownership, alternative forms of finance and long term sustainability at the heart of community development. On the 18th & 19th June participants will have the opportunity to network, learn and share and build new strategic, social and business partnerships.

Registered Office: VOLUNTEER NOW, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH, N.Ireland.A Charity (Inland Revenue) No. XT22896 Company Limited by Guarantee No. NI602399. Registered in Northern Ireland. http://www.volunteernow.co.uk/volunteering/timebanking