What is co-production?

A map of the UK surrounded by groups of different people

Everything Mencap does is about supporting people with a learning disability to live their lives to the full.

A group of workers are meeting and talking to people with learning disabilities

Co-production is a way of working together to make decisions.

A picture of 3 women pointing at a sign below them which says 'What we want'

It helps us to make sure Mencap’s work is led by people with a learning disability.

We also work with families of people with a learning disability and other groups of people.

A group of people with disabilities celebrating with speech bubbles behind them

Co-production helps us to make sure their voices can be heard too.

A group of people with a circle around them.

This helps Mencap to work with people to make things better.

A five piece jigsaw. Each piece has a word on it. The four pieces on the outside of the jigsaw say 'Equal power', 'Accessible', Beginning till end' and Be with each other'

To include the people we work with properly, we need to do four things.

Without all the pieces of the co-production puzzle, we are not including people with a learning disability and the people we work with in a meaningful way.

A group of people sitting at a table looking at a laptop.

There are groups of people with a learning disability that work in this area. For example

Co-production Group
Include Me Group
Community Support Group

A group of people around a desk pointing to different bits of a large sheet of paper

Share power equally

This means that everyone makes decisions together. No one is more important.

Three flip books each with a picture of a different person doing a different job to the others

When we work together, we might do different things, but we all have equal power.

It means having your voice heard so we all get a chance to say something.

A man with his hand cupped around his mouth talking, with a speech bubble over his head

“Equal power makes us more powerful together. Together, we are a force to be reckoned with.”

A large group of people with different needs.

Be accessible

This means that everyone can take part.

A woman in a wheelchair with a speech bubble that reads "I need..." with a clock, easy read page, and ramp representing reasonable adjustments.

We have to make reasonable adjustments for everyone who needs them.

Reasonable adjustments are small changes that make sure people with a disability are treated equally.

A man sitting on a chair reading a book scratching his head next to a question mark symbol

Information should not be complicated.

A young girl choosing an image on a communication aid, a document in easy read and a hand reading some Braille.

We should use clear communication and think about how other people communicate.

A woman is kneeling down listening to a man in a wheelchair who is talking

We should also think about people's caring commitments and their wellbeing.

A sheet of paper with easy read information on it.

For example, having a charity newsletter in Easy Read .

For example, asking people whether they prefer talking over email, text or a call.

7 people sitting around a meeting table. One person is raising a green card.

Include the people we work with at the beginning till the end of our work

People with a learning disability and people we work with should be a part of the conversation before decisions have been made.

A group of 3 people in white T-shirts smiling with their thumbs up

It makes things more inclusive and accessible , even if it takes longer.

2 people standing behind someone and talking and leaving them out of the conversation.

Without this, our work is tokenistic.

Tokenistic means doing something just to make you look like you are being inclusive.

Three people sitting around a table looking fed up

For example, by inviting someone with a learning disability, or their family member, to a meeting to look at work that has already been done.

A group of people holding up signs for change and another person is shouting through a megaphone

For example, the Communication, Advocacy and Activism directorate has a group that will work on our new campaign proposition from the beginning till the end.