In our July masterclass, we turned the spotlight on a principle that sits at the heart of everything we do: coproduction.
What is Coproduction?
Coproduction means professionals and the people who use our services working together as equal partners – not one group designing services for the other, but both shaping them together, from the ground up. It starts with genuinely listening to what residents want and need, and it keeps evolving from there.
At Jimmy’s, that means residents have a say across every level of the organisation, from how we deliver support, to who we hire, to how our spaces look and what we cook.
Our Coproduction Co-ordinator, Alice, explains why this matters so deeply to her:
“It means so much because I’ve experienced what it feels like to have little control over decisions that affect your life. That’s why I believe that when we truly value people’s voices and work alongside them as equals, we create services that are more compassionate, more effective and ultimately lead to better outcomes.”
Coproduction in action
Theory is one thing, but coproduction really comes alive in moments when we can put it into practice. For example, when our East Road team leader Hetty wanted to refresh the communal space, rather than organising the makeover alone, she brought residents into the process from the start. They picked up paintbrushes, got stuck in, and gave the space the glow-up it deserved – with live music playing to top off the afternoon.
This is what coproduction looks like when it moves from principle into practice – not doing things for our residents, but with them.
Why it matters
A service shaped by the people it’s for is a service that actually works. When residents help design the support, spaces, and decisions that affect their lives, the results are more compassionate, more effective, and rooted in real understanding, rather than assumptions.