- EVOC

Mike McCarron: Edinburgh Recovery Activties project to be live soon

18 April 2019

Things are moving along nicely with the next recovery project in Edinburgh. Discussions and plans are underway with regards to the long term project, taking into account things like locations, social enterprise involvement and other operational considerations.

The interim project, now called ERA – Edinburgh Recovery Activities – will be live soon, following input from the community on activities and ideas. The purpose of the project is to provide fulfilling, fun and enjoyable experiences for the recovery community whilst the core, longer term project is organised.

ERA projects will hopefully link in with the new base once it opens its doors. The most popular suggestions that we recorded in the early part of 2019 revolved around the need for green space activities, personal development classes like yoga, and a social event open to those in recovery and their family members. We also have an exciting opportunity to set up something along the lines of a practical skills program. We will get these up and running as soon as possible so please get in touch to offer ideas or support.

This is just the beginning – we’re looking for other suggestions too, maybe creative groups, outings to places of interest, walking groups, sports groups, training days, club nights – whatever the community feels would be beneficial and provide valuable experiences.

Working across the community with those in many stages of recovery, we’re keen to help build connections, adding to the feeling of support and unity. Whatever it looks like, we need it to be firmly based on ideas and suggestions from the recovery community above all. Please feel free to send me over suggestions and ideas which I’ll then set about gauging interest with other community members and making the necessary arrangements for the group or activity to take place.

I’ve been speaking with individuals and organisations who run venues, centres and halls in order to facilitate groups that might be suggested. Likewise, if there’s an interest in a particular group that isn’t venue dependent, I can organise that too.

We’re also keen to link in with other organisations around Edinburgh providing complementary support. We will also set up a process for offering micro funding for relevant groups and projects delivering on specific criteria which align with ERA’s goals and principles.

For any information, idea contributions, volunteering or anything else, you can contact me via email at Michael.mccarron@evoc.org.uk or on 0131 555 9100.

The success of the project lies in the effort and drive of the recovery community, something that we’ve seen can do amazing things so far. Let’s keep it going.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghRecoveryActivities
Twitter – @EdinburghRecov1
Instagram – EdinburghRecoveryActivities19

Transforming Urgent Care Out of Hours

28 March 2019

EVOC and NHS Lothian have been working together since December 2018 to consult people about Urgent Care Out of Hours. We have met with groups of older people, carers and people accessing mental health services in North West Edinburgh, and more widely, during February to hear people’s experiences.

We have gathered everyone’s views to produce a report which will be used to inform the Out of Hours Primary Care Transformation Programme, which aims to improve services so that people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

We were pleased to work with Media Education and some of those consulted, to produce this short film about people’s experiences of accessing urgent care out of hours. Many thanks to all involved.

Edinburgh Recovery Community Support Report

26 March 2019

Hi, folks.

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who took part in the survey, focus groups, discussions and the event. Your thoughts and opinions have been invaluable and will serve as a great foundation for where we go from here.

The findings from the research period painted a picture of what the Edinburgh recovery community feels needs to happen next. Essentially: open 7 days a week, central, fixed location, a safe place staffed in large part by those in recovery which provides personal development opportunities.

Click here for the report covering the whole research process, the findings and the recommendations for what will happen next. The recommended next steps in the report were agreed at the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership (EADP) Core Group meeting on 11th March.

One of the most exciting things this means is that more money will be allocated to the future project. In the past, the EADP had been supporting Serenity to the sum of £60,000 a year. However, based on the needs for the new project and the strong case made by all involved, this funding has been increased to £175,000. Along with this sum, we’re aiming to find complementary funding streams to further support the project.

It’s a complex project and there needs to be considerable planning and appropriate structures put in place. It needs to be robust, and sustainable, so it’s going to require time and continued input from the recovery community. We’re hoping that about this time next year , the new project will open its doors for the first time.

Of course we need to be doing something else in the meantime! What came across strongly in the research was the importance of the social aspect of the recovery community. The sense of safety, friendship, opportunity and community at Serenity made a massive difference to many people.

So EVOC, working in partnership with people and organisations across Edinburgh, are starting to put together a programme of recovery inspired and focused events, activities, outings, groups and opportunities. The hope is to get this off the ground as soon as possible, with consistent input from the recovery community. We’ll be looking for ideas of what could be held or organised in the coming weeks and months. The community has a fantastic wealth of talent and we want to encourage members to come forwards with any skills or ideas they’d like to share. The community’s input has been instrumental in getting this far and will continue to be central in shaping both the interim and the longer term project.

Please get in touch with any ideas or questions – you can put comments on the e-mail, give me a call or I can come and meet you.

Mike McCarron
michael.mccarron@evoc.org.uk
0131 555 9100

Guest Blog: Kim Sibbald, Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust

12 February 2019

South East Edinburgh Voluntary Sector Forum, South East Who’s Who Networking Event, Faith Mission

“Better Connected”

It wasn’t too long ago, during a SE Voluntary Sector Forum meeting, that myself, and a group of willing volunteers agreed to help organise a networking event for the South East locality.

The purpose was simple; we all needed to become better connected to improve the services we provide for people living in the South East. We wanted to create an event where people could connect and find out what is already there.

Our first planning meeting consisted of a group of 6 and a print out of a google search “How to organise a networking event”! And that is where we started. Our audience was third sector organisations, NHS and City of Edinburgh Council (H&SCP) and our goal was to reach as many people as possible working in South East locality.

As a team we chose a date and venue and sent out Save the Dates. Between our networks and with the help of our enthusiastic public health practitioner, Sylvia Baikie people very quickly began to register their interest.

And as we continued to meet and plan the scale of event became bigger and bigger. It became apparent was that the SE really needed this event. Everyone was ready to connect.

On the day, we had over 35 stalls set up around the perimeter of the conference rooms in Faith Mission. We had happy helpers ready to welcome guests as they came in. Health in Mind had lovingly prepared welcome packs for everyone attending. 113 delegates had booked on and a further 89 people registered on the day. There was a queue out of the door!

The first half an hour was good old fashioned networking. People were able to peruse and chat to the stall holders. We had deliberately allowed for this time so that guests who only had limited time could pop in.
Sylvia Baikie then kick started the main event by walking on to the stage with a life size pop up drawing of Eddie. Eddie was a reminder of why we need to network of why we were there. He is a visual representation of an individual in our locality who needs us to work together to better support his needs.

Jackie, Eddie, Kim

In fact, Eddie wasn’t the only image of the day. Throughout the event, standing at the front with a huge board and beautiful coloured pens, was Jackie Forbes a graphic facilitator from Drawn to Learn. Drawn to Learn brings group thinking and conversations to life through the magic of graphic recording and visual maps. Amazingly this was being done ‘live’ throughout the whole morning.

The first part of the event was the presentations. It was a great way to set the scene and show how the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fit together.

Peter Carruthers – Chair of South East VSF
Sarah Burns – South East Locality Manager, City of Edinburgh Council
Anna Duff – Cluster Manager, Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership

After this followed the networking activity / ice-breaker. Before the event we had thought hard about we could maximise networking and we decided on BINGO with a twist. In the welcome, pack were our case study bingo cards. There were 9 different scenarios and each was representative of what people may be facing in our locality.

We asked our attendees to find a professional or service who could support each of the case studies, allowing them to fill in some gaps and think outside of the box. No particular rules – just to speak to someone new. Theoretically, each person in the room should connect with 9 others! We really couldn’t believe how everyone made the most of this opportunity. There was such a buzz in the room; it was incredible! In fact, once everyone had started talking it was difficult to get them to stop.

We came together to discuss what new information we had found. People were happy to share the new support systems they had discovered and organisations were given an opportunity to tell everyone a bit more. We then focused in more detail on our friend Eddie and collectively found a more comprehensive support system for him. In small groups the delegates brainstormed on two other scenarios in more detail. All their suggestions of support were put on post it notes to be captured on the graphic recording after the event.

The last part of the event was back to the stalls for general networking. Again opening the doors to professionals who were only able to pop in.
If I was to use three words to describe the event, I would say ‘BUZZING’ ‘OPEN’ and ‘POSITIVE’.

Follow up from the event:

The feedback of the event was incredibly positive. People valued the networking opportunity and really made the most of it. The graphic recording was sent to delegates as a summary of the event along with a directory of nearly 200 contacts.

We were so happy to hear of new connections being followed up and it really feels like the South East are in the zone to work together.

“The event had a real buzz about it. Organisations and professionals were wanting to meet and learn from each other, for the benefit of the local community. It was very easy to network”

“Recording the minutes visually was a really interesting and useful method. Having time to network with so many organisations was brilliant”.

“The event really showcased the marvellous work done in the voluntary sector, highlighting how we can complement the statutory services”

The whole experience of organising an event like this with such a positive group has been fantastic. Everyone worked so hard and we all pulled on our joint resources. The event itself was an example of what can be done when we work together. Personally, leading an activity for so many people was a new challenge and something I am really proud of.

The next Who’s Who event will be organised by Health & Social Care and is hoping to build on this momentum and keep strengthening ties in our locality.

Who’s Who Organising Team:
Kim Sibbald & Ruth Wyatt – ELGT
Sylvia Baikie – Health & Social Care Partnership
Alison McGhee & Jen Learmonth – Health In Mind
Peter Carruthers – SEAG
Rebecca Dey – NHS Health Promotion
Dan Fuller – Libertus
Rachel Howe – Health & Social Care Partnership
Jackie Forbes – Drawn to Learn
Ian Brooke – EVOC

Blog first published on the pages of Edinburgh Community Health Forum here.

Edinburgh Integration Joint Board Grant Programme 2019 – 2022 Results

6 December 2018

As many of you will be intensely aware, the recommended recipients of the fully reviewed IJB grant programme will be published in the Board papers on Friday 7th December.

For some organisations this will mean stability for three years, but inevitably for others the announcement will bring bad news – closure of services and difficult decisions will have to be made. At EVOC we have been planning how we can offer constructive support to organisations through this time.

The papers are recommendations to the IJB and the final decision will be made at the meeting on 14th December 2018.

Like so many organisations the majority of EVOC staff are part time so most of my team won’t be around on Friday 7th to offer immediate advice and support but Denise Horn (0131 555 9117) and I (0131 555 9105) are both happy to lend a listening ear if that helps.

For ongoing support if you complete our referral form and head it up “grants enquiry” we will work out the best person within EVOC to help you, or signpost you to someone else who can. We have scheduled a meeting early next week to review the potential impact on organisations, services users, carers and communities. We will then be able to respond to the enquiries which have come in – so if you don’t hear from us immediately please don’t feel forgotten. But do call and if we can answer immediate questions we will.

We will be running training courses to support you, whether you find yourself needing to make funding applications to ensure to ensure the sustainability of your organisation, need advice and support to close services or review all your options. We have allocated some funds to be able to provide one-to-one support with consultants on relevant issues such as strategic planning, change management and succession planning. These will be free to any organisation impacted by the grants decisions.

In terms of the broader impact on communities, the IJB and the associated work programmes are very aware of the need to take account of the impact of the grants decisions. I would also urge you to participate in EVOC forums and networks so we can work together to discuss the impact, share ideas and gain support from each other.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions about what else would help.

Ella Simpson
Chief Executive, EVOC

EVOC 150: Victorian Birthday Party at Flora Stevenson’s Primary School

1 November 2018

Happy Birthday Flora!

Tuesday 30th October 2018 would have been Flora Stevenson’s 179th birthday. Flora was a social reformer and suffragist with a special interest in education. She played an active role in EVOC’s predecessor organisation, the Edinburgh Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.

The EVOC 150 team chose to mark Flora’s birthday in the only appropriate way, with a party! But not just any party. We were absolutely delighted to work with the Flora Stevenson Primary School to deliver a day-long Victorian-themed birthday bonanza involving all staff, pupils and the parents council, a mere 700-odd individuals. Three cheers to everyone involved!

Recipe for Success

I am incredibly proud of what we managed to achieve in just over five weeks and extra special thanks must go to Sharon McGhee and Amanda Burton, headteacher and depute headteacher respectively at Flora’s for their approachability, creativity and enthusiasm.

Our mutual aims were to honour the legacy of Flora; raise awareness of, learn about and encourage volunteerism and social action; promote the EVOC 150 project, and have fun! With just three short planning meetings squeezed in amongst packed schedules we went from the initial germ of an idea to a mammoth event. It was a lesson for me in how much is possible with limited resources and a (very) moderate budget topped with a healthy serving of belief.

The Big Day

From our initial meeting the school were determined to find a way of including the families of pupils as well. The day started with a mini volunteer fayre in the Hall of Happiness accompanied by a performance by The Music School. I had thoroughly underestimated how good the exceptionally talented musicians would be and should never have based my preconceptions on my own primary school recorder group!

GirlGuiding Edinburgh, Health in Mind, Edinburgh Leisure (Ageing Well), The Yard, Cyrenians and The Rock Trust promoted their organisations and volunteering opportunities to families in a packed hall.

Christy Thomson from The Yard said: “I loved coming and thought it was really nice to be a part of the day…I think [it] was really useful”. It was fantastic to see so many people come in and we were grateful to have the support of Cllr Hal Osler who joined us for the whole morning.

With a swiftly executed five-minute turnaround the hall was transformed into party central. Thanks to an exceptional feat of organisation which would put many professional logistics experts to shame, over the course of the next six hours we rotated all children by year group in and out of the hall.

Once inside the children learnt why the school and EVOC had collaborated for Flora’s birthday, played traditional Victorian games including pass the slipper (plimsole) and Blind Man’s Buff and learnt about what life would have been like during Flora’s time with the help of handling boxes from the Outreach Service at Museums and Galleries Edinburgh.

Happy Birthday Flora was sung loud and proud and once the vocal cords were warm Daisy Bell was also recited. I’m pretty sure it’s going to take between 150 and 179 years for me to get the latter out of my head. Finally, no party is complete without appropriate sustenance. The parent council completed an epic baking mission to provide mountains of Victoria Sponge cakes and Morrisons Ferry Road kindly donated so we could hydrate the children with lashings of lemonade. Many thanks to Yasmin and Alea from EVOC; Tricia, EVOC 150 volunteer and Hal for managing an industrial-sized production line of all of the above treats.

Back in class away from the frivolities in the hall, all children created birthday cards for Flora and included a pledge to volunteer or be of service in some other way as a way of honouring Flora’s legacy. All staff and students had either chosen to dress-up as Victorians to signify the past, or come in their uniform to signify the present. I wonder what schools will look like 179 years from now?

Thank You

This day would not have been the stand-out success it was without the help and enthusiasm of all those mentioned above and more. We are able to celebrate EVOC’s 150th year with events like this with thanks to lottery players and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Hip Hip Hooray!

Past, Present and Future: My journey along EVOC’s 150 year-old road

20 September 2018

As I approach my three-month anniversary at EVOC, I’ve decided it’s important to pause for a moment to reflect on what we have achieved so far with the EVOC 150 project and what’s in store over the next six months.

What is EVOC 150?

EVOC turned 150 years-old in March 2018 and was awarded funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver a programme of events, communications and initiatives to celebrate this milestone.
Originally established as the catchily-named Edinburgh Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, the organisation has morphed and developed over the last century-and-a-half to what it is today. You can find out more on our website.

Through the EVOC 150 project we will excavate the heritage of Edinburgh’s voluntary sector, celebrate the work and individuals involved so far, and look ahead to what could or will be in store for the sector over the next 150 years. No mean feat! Our project is focused on four themes: organising, tackling inequality, protest and campaigning, and working together.

This project has the exciting potential to make a major contribution to the profile of the third sector in Edinburgh and beyond, and as we face a period of transition and uncertainty in the UK it is a fantastic opportunity to research and document the importance of the sector. Sometimes the opportunity to simply explain what the third sector actually is, is enough, but I have bigger dreams than that!

What have we been working on?

Media Education has a team of young filmmakers creating a documentary on the history of EVOC. I’ll say no more on that as I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s going to be fantastic! Young people from their Friday film club produced two short, silent films about the life of Elsie Inglis (see below).

The Living Memory Association have digitised thousands of archive photos and are recording an oral history of EVOC and community/civic action in Edinburgh.

We have been attending events and meeting individuals across the city to spread the EVOC 150 word, and to consider ways to collaborate. We celebrated International Day of Charity by touring a small number of the thousands of charities based in Edinburgh to deliver thank you cards and profile their work with short videos on social media. We have also recently appointed three professional researchers who are soon to say goodbye to loved ones as they venture deep into various archives to interrogate the history of the organisation. They hope to be allowed to surface before Christmas to share some initial findings.

What are we planning?

We will focus on some of the causes central to EVOC’s mission by making a splash on various awareness days. I say this with a full appreciation that for anyone involved with: older people, young people, mental health, volunteers, eradication of poverty, human rights…to name a few, every day/year is their day.

We will present the research mentioned above in a public format early next year. This might be a touring exhibition, an interpretive dance or a projection onto the castle (some of these suggestions are definitely in jest). Watch this space! We are busy planning for the EVOC conference in November and are hoping to deliver an event as part of the Fire Starter Festival 2019.

We are also working with a volunteer storyteller who is deeply passionate about the importance of the third sector and the transformative potential of volunteering. I am delighted he found us and can’t wait to schedule his first engagements.

How can you get involved?

We would love to hear from anyone with an interest in this project and are open to all ideas and possible collaborations, creativity is encouraged! If this is too broad, below are some suggestions of who this might appeal to.
• You are involved with a school in Edinburgh looking for an interdisciplinary learning project
• You are involved with a youth group, community centre, care home, sports club, art group or similar and would like to host our storyteller at one of your meetings/events
• You would like to run an event for a relevant awareness day but would like some support
• You have a story of volunteering, fundraising, campaigning or similar that you would like to contribute to our Memory Box
• You would like us to feature your organisation or community in a case study
• You have a noticeboard we could display an A4 poster on, or a space to host some promotional postcards.

Get in touch by emailing me at lucy.ridley@evoc.org.uk and follow our hashtag, #EVOC150, on social media.

VOCAL Reacts to Scottish Government’s new Carers Allowance Supplement

19 September 2018

Eligible carers are now entitled to a Carer’s Allowance Supplement of £221 paid out as a lump sum twice a year. The supplement is a much needed and welcomed benefit to carers who often struggle to earn an income alongside their caring duties.

The Edinburgh based charity VOCAL has been supporting carers since 1994 and offers advice on carers’ rights. Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive of VOCAL said: “VOCAL works with over 9,000 carers each year and can evidence the widespread and growing impact of caring on people’s economic wellbeing, with women most badly affected. For many, caring means a spiral into isolation and poverty.

“In a recent VOCAL survey of 1,228 carers, 48% agreed that being a carer had made managing money and finances more difficult with a third paying for care out of their own savings. A quarter have had to reduce their working hours to care and a further quarter have had to give up work altogether.”

Carer’s Allowance Supplement

Carers who live in Scotland and have been receiving the DWP Carer’s Allowance, will be notified on Monday 16th April if they are entitled to the supplement. The supplement will equate to an extra £8.50 per week and will be paid out automatically.

Shirley Morris who leads VOCAL’s ‘Money Matters’ support for carers credits the supplement as not only a financial aid but also a boost in recognition of the carers’ work.

She said: “Carers are very encouraged by the increase in the carers allowance supplement. It is a very welcome boost to carers’ income and recognition by the Scottish government of the vital role they undertake.”

“Dignity, fairness and respect”

The sum is paid out by Social Security Scotland, a recently founded public service by the Scottish Government as a result of a public consultation on what benefits are needed and how these benefits meet people’s demands.

The consultation revealed that the people felt their individual needs were lost in the system. Social Security Scotland states that its aim is to approach issues surrounding benefits with dignity, fairness and respect. The transition of the other benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland will be gradually released over this parliamentary term.

To find out if you are eligible for the Carer’s Allowance Supplement click here.

For more information on Social Security Scotland, click here.

Dr Pauline Nolan from Inclusion Scotland responds to Judith Proctor Interview

13 September 2018

We read with interest EVOC’s article ‘Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership’s new Chief Officer, Never Afraid to Challenge: Interview with Judith Proctor (15 August 2018)’ and were heartened by some of her commitments ensuring that local third sector organisations would play a key role in helping to address some of the current challenges faced.

This we would say is crucial throughout Scotland at local levels. Equally so is the involvement of those who use the services,as social care users have, until recently, had very little say in decisions about the local delivery of integrated services.

We agree it is important to invest locally in a wide range of services, including those to support the various Self-Directed Support options, advocacy for decision making, and so on. One way is to commission local Disabled People’s Organisations such as LCIL who provide a range of helpful services and are run by disabled people themselves.

Good social care has many functions other than merely “keeping people safe” – what about supported risk taking? When thinking about ‘reducing loneliness’, we also need to look at quality of life and having enough to live on (charging for social care should be abolished to this end). Going further than involving people in the community there need to be real opportunities to participate in local decision making.

Users of social care services may also find the phrase “hospital at home” alarming. It is reminiscent of the Scottish Government’s ill-advised “There’s no ward like home” advert that included the image of the older man, Mr McCluskey, surrounded by health and social care workers on an elongated sofa.

We have seen a generalised focus at all levels on health outcomes for individuals throughout the integration process. Getting social care packages in place for people already discharged – to prevent ‘bed blocking’ – is important, but so too is their wider integration back into their family, community, and so on. Social care has much wider implications which merely include the preventative well-being agenda to improve lives; it must also realise people’s human right to Independent Living.

Later in the interview Judith expresses the need to think about ‘how we are supporting older people and [disabled people] to link into their community and be active citizens’. Revitalising the local third sector is one way of ensuring this.

The legislation applying to social care includes the duty to engage with those who use the services. Yet we know there are still barriers to adult social care users having true choice and control, partly because of the tensions between local procurement and Self-Directed Support. Involving them in how Partnerships plan might prevent such tensions occurring.

Our 2015-16 Health and Social Care Integration Engagement Project, which worked with disabled people and Third Sector Interfaces (including EVOC), recommended:

“Disabled people have the lived experience of the consequences of other people’s decisions about their health and social care, so their perspectives should be one of the primary sources of evidence when designing and implementing health and social care services.”

Inclusion Scotland are running a national, Scottish Government funded People-led Policy Project, a policy panel and core group of adult health and social care service users who will actively use their lived experience and expertise to influence policy going forward.

This project will gladly engage with CEOs of local Health and Social Care Partnerships. Indeed, we believe this kind of ambitious, radical change to involving people in decision making – People-led Policy- needs to be happening at local levels too.

Dr Pauline Nolan

Policy and Localisation manager, Inclusion Scotland.

Inclusion Scotland is a ‘Disabled People’s Organisation’ (DPO) – led by disabled people ourselves. Inclusion Scotland works to achieve positive changes to policy and practice, so that we disabled people are fully included throughout all Scottish society as equal citizens.

Sources: “Health and Social Care Integration Engagement: Opportunities missed and challenges to be met” Inclusion Scotland

David Hunter on Community Transport

30 August 2018

When a voluntary group hears that someone is coming to talk about their transport, the first reaction is often “please don’t take our bus away!” So I’ve been privileged to spend six months at EVOC supporting an innovative project to improve transport for third sector day centres and lunch clubs. Ageing populations and increasing expectations for community-based support mean growing transport needs and the Council is keen to find alternatives to simply paying more for expensive private minibus and taxi services or adding to the Council’s own Passenger Operations – the ‘white bus fleet’ which, with 73 vehicles is a substantial enterprise.

Increasing Demand

The Council therefore asked Edinburgh’s Community Transport (CT) providers for proposals to help meet this increasing demand for transport. Edinburgh has some of the best respected CT providers in Scotland (and the UK), several started as EVOC initiatives. Four groups – HcL (Handicabs), Lothian Community Transport Services, Pilton Equalities Project, and South Edinburgh Amenities Group (SEAG) – entered into a Public Social Partnership (PSP) with the Council in 2016 to work together to identify ways of improving efficiency, effectiveness and service quality.

My role at EVOC was mainly to facilitate the CT groups arriving at an agreed business case to meet the Council’s transport requirements. The proposed initiative, to be considered by Council Committee in October, may see new transport provision by CT groups beginning next year for a number of third sector day care services, lunch clubs and summer play schemes; A few personal reflections….

A Varying Appetite for Risk

No one doubts the benefits of partnership working; but because it requires a consensus, partnership can lead to low-risk options being favoured. Different partners invariably have a varying appetite for risk – this can mean that it is hard to get agreement for more ambitious, but more risky options. It may be easier to generate really innovative solutions where there is no need to keep a range of partners on-side.

While the project was conducted in the spirit of co-production, power in a co-production environment is rarely equally shared. The dynamics of co-production where one party has more power, influence – and yes, money! – than the others can be challenging.

Before I became involved in the project, a lot of effort had been put into establishing PSP governance. Although this created a sound platform for collaboration, limited progress had been made in actually extending the role of the CT groups on the ground, while a lot of energy and goodwill had been consumed. Too much emphasis on ‘process’ and not enough on ‘outcome’ can stifle creativity, enthusiasm and practical delivery.

Finally, the success of the PSP partners in reaching an agreed way forward is highly dependent on the willingness of the Council to positively review funding to the CT groups. It is much more difficult to achieve a successful outcome to a partnership change initiative where resources are reducing.