June team update: Learning Through Collaboration

What we’ve been up to

Team members Aleem, Hania, Helen, Olu, Rosie and Sarah attended our annual staff conference at UCL. While there, we heard from other teams that are part of the UCL Library, Culture, Collections and Open Science department who shared interesting projects that they have been working on. It was great to meet lots of new colleagues at UCL, and we particularly enjoyed learning more about the UCL Prejudice in Power programme and hearing about their co-creation projects.

We delivered a two-hour long Introduction to Co-Production session for UCL staff and students, as part of the Transform training program within the university. Helen was joined by Annie and Tom, who worked together to develop content for the session looking at the language we use power in co-production, and sharing stories of successful projects. We had some great discussions with the attendees and shared what we think are the most important values and principles in co-production.

Nicc and Debora attended the British Pain Society Conference in Wales, where they presented about our work as part of the session "Co-production: how it can be used to improve policy, practice and lived experience in relation to pain care" alongside Jackie Walumbe, Sarah Harrison, Samina Begum, Kafilla Munir and Mark Agathangelou who chaired the session."

Julie, Nicc and Krisztina had a meeting with Glentworth House staff to plan the development of a hydration support tool for the care home, as part of the VIVALDI Hydration Intervention project. They reviewed the hydration charter co-produced with the home, and discussed approaches for dissemination, for example via digital storytelling, which they plan to record in the autumn.

Nicc and Nat attended the Pushing Boundaries conference which explored how communities are reshaping research and innovation. They enjoyed hearing stories from different fields, sectors, and ways of working. The event itself was designed to include hands-on experiences, and attendees had the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative research inquiry, working together to breakdown barriers and create meaningful change.

Coming up

Nicc, Rosie and Cecily will be going along to People’s Voice Media ’s Afrofuturism event, as part of our Anti-Racism work. This event will give us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of racism and anti-racism, share and listen to lived experience stories, and take part in anti-racist creative practises. will give us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of racism and anti-racism, share and listen to lived experience stories, and take part in anti-racist creative practises.

 Co-Pro Cuppa

Thankyou for coming to our June Co-Pro Cuppa! It was great to see many of you there. We had great discussions on a variety of topics including experiences of involvement n academic projects, co-producing with children and young people and the importance of sharing not only the benefits, but also the challenges of co production to encourage reflection and learning.

Our next Co-Pro Cuppas will take place on:

• Tuesday 5 August at 13:00 (UK time)
• Wednesday 3 September at 11:00 (UK time)
• Thursday 2 October at 13:30 (UK time)

If you have any questions or would like to know more about our work, please get in contact by emailing us on coproduction@ucl.ac.uk