Co-production can be defined as a way of doing that sees all the actors involved as equals contributors towards the same goal. In the field of social services, it can be therefore considered an inclusive and participatory way of delivering services.

According to NESTA Foundation co-production core principle are:

• Recognising people as assets: equal partners in the design and delivery of services;
• Building on people’s existing capabilities: co-produced services start with people’s capabilities (not needs) and look for opportunities to develop them;
• Mutuality and reciprocity: co-production is about a mutual and reciprocal partnership;
• Peer support networks: peer and personal networks alongside professionals;
• Blurring roles: blurring the distinction between professionals, users, family members, community representatives;  
• Professionals as catalyst of change: Enabling professionals to become facilitators and catalysts of change.

Applied to the disability field, it has been proven that the co-production model and methodology increase also the awareness and knowledge of staff working with people with Intellectual Disability on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion and how these should be core features of their daily work.

Co-production is the approach that links to very important projets: ENABLE and IN-CUBA.
Here you can find information on the project ENABLE, which ended 2017, project and the learning platform developed by its partnership.
You will soon be able to discover more about IN-CUBA (Incubators for CO-productive Enterprises and Social Inclusion)  and its objectives… stay tuned!