Sharing power.
Connecting lived and learnt experiences.
Creating a more human world.
We empower organisations to see people as more than just numbers on a spreadsheet and to recognise the value of human experiences.
We share knowledge and provide practical support to understand and re-distribute power.
We cultivate spaces where people with lived and learnt experiences of social systems - such as housing and health & social care - can feel safe, connect as humans and drive systemic change.
We do this through “co-production”, which is where people come together as equals, to create something as a group, that works for everyone involved.
Do you want to share power & ensure that lived experience is ethically embedded into a project you’re running?
We help housing and health & social care service-providers and social research organisations create equitable spaces for people with lived experience to share their knowledge and skills in a safe environment.
Together we will:
Put people at the centre of your project.
Ensure that processes are caring and human.
Create safe environments for important conversations.
Do you work in the social sector and want to integrate co-production into your services but don’t know where to start?
Our trauma-informed co-production workshop is hands-on, practical, and centred on awareness of trauma and power. Facilitated by people with experience of systems inequality.
You will leave our workshop with:
An understanding of how co-production can re-balance power and heal trauma.
Having actually practised co-production in real life!
Increased confidence and practical ways to start or better integrate co-production in your organisation or project.
Do you have first-hand knowledge of the UK’s social systems, such as housing or health & social care and want to enact change?
Our community members are more than statistics on a page. Everyone is unique and brings their own human experience to the table.
Human Connection & Valued Experiences
We have fun, share resources, make decisions, and take action together.
Friendship, support and care are central to our community as well as our commitment to learn and grow as individuals and a collective.
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“We simply wouldn’t be able to do the research in this way without you.”
Michael Allard - Research Manager, Crisis
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“We've never had such engaged participation!"
Niamh McGarry - Research Director, ClearView Research
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"In my highs and lows I always feel safe with the Power With community"
Lestari - Community Member
Join other organisations placing co-production at the heart of their projects.
What the Community says
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"Each member's heart is so deep it’s comforting. It feels to me like a deep ocean, when you dive below it is peaceful and you feel safe. So welcoming"
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"We are different. But so powerful with our differences"
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"We just want to connect. Power With helps us fill our cup"
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"We aren’t pressured to do anything, but are encouraged and supported to, if we want to"
FAQs
What approach do you use?
We foster a co-production approach within our organisation and support others to do the same.
Co-production - simply - is where people come together as equals to create something as a group that works for everyone involved.
What is lived experience?
The experience(s) of people on whom a social issue, or combination of issues, has had a direct personal impact.
Taken from ‘The Value of Lived experience In Social Change: The Need for Social Leadership and Organisational Development in the Social Sector’ -Baljeet Sandhu
What is learnt experience?
We use the term learnt experience to mean when you have an understanding of a subject or issue through work, volunteering or study.
What types of power are there?
Power is often defined only in negative terms, and as a form of domination, but it can also be a positive force for individual and collective capacity to act for change.
We were inspired by Lisa VeneKlasen and Valerie Miller’s definition of ‘power with’ in A New Weave of Power (2002, page 55) who describe this concept as follows:
“‘Power with’ has to do with finding common ground among different interests and building collective strength.
Based on mutual support, solidarity and collaboration, ‘power with’ multiplies individual talents and knowledge.
‘Power with’ can help build bridges across different interests to transform or reduce social conflict and promote equitable relations.”
Power With encapsulates the type of relationships and spaces we want to create and be part of.
Four ‘expressions of power’ can be found here.