Co-production Week 2026: Creating Care Equity Together
Published 22 June 2026
Monday 29 June 2026 marks the start of Co-production Week, a national celebration led by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). This year's theme, Care Equity, explores what it means to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, identity, circumstances or experiences, has equal access to high-quality social care.
The week also highlights how genuine partnership working through co-production helps create services that are fairer, more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of the people who use them.
At Making Space, co-production is not an add-on or a one-off activity. It is a core part of who we are. It is embedded within our values, our culture and our strategic vision, helping to ensure that people who draw on support, carers, volunteers, colleagues and communities all have a voice in shaping the services we provide.
What is co-production?
Co-production is about working together as equal partners. It recognises that lived experience is just as valuable as professional expertise and that the best outcomes are achieved when decisions are made with people, not for them.
By sharing power, listening to different perspectives and valuing everyone's contribution, co-production helps break down barriers and create services that better reflect the diverse needs of individuals and communities.
This approach is particularly important when considering care equity. When people are involved in designing and improving services, we are better able to understand different experiences, identify inequalities and ensure support is accessible, inclusive and meaningful for everyone.
Mark Thornton, Co-production and Volunteer Co-ordinator at Making Space, said:
Care equity starts with listening. We know that people are experts in their own lives, and co-production gives them the opportunity to influence the support they receive and the services they use.
At Making Space, we are committed to creating opportunities for everyone to have their voice heard, regardless of their background, experiences or circumstances. Co-production helps us understand what matters most to people and ensures services are shaped around real needs rather than assumptions.
Co-production Week is a chance to celebrate the incredible contributions people make across our organisation every day and to recognise the positive impact that working together has on creating fairer, stronger and more inclusive services.
Stockport Connect Hub Football Committee
One inspiring example of co-production in action can be found at Stockport Connect Hub through its Football Committee.
The committee is a constituted group made up of people who have drawn on the service's support and who work together to oversee the running of the football programme. Members take on key roles including Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, managing finances, making decisions and leading fundraising activities.
The group raises funds to help cover costs such as pitch hire, football kits and equipment, ensuring the programme remains accessible and sustainable for everyone involved.
By taking ownership of decision-making and fundraising, members develop confidence, leadership skills and a strong sense of purpose. The committee also explores new opportunities for community activities, including organising events such as local pool competitions.
The Football Committee demonstrates how co-production can empower people to shape services, build practical skills and create opportunities that reflect the interests and priorities of those involved.
They are currently looking for a volunteer Football Group Assistant, you can find out more here.
The Making It Real G.A.M.E.
Making Space has long championed the Making It Real framework, which uses a series of "I" statements to describe what good care and support should look like from the perspective of people who draw on services.
To bring these conversations to life, we developed the Making It Real G.A.M.E. (Guided Approach to Meaningful Engagement).
The interactive board game encourages people to explore key themes including wellbeing, community, workforce, information and support through engaging discussions and activities. Participants roll some dice, select conversation cards and work together to identify ideas and actions that can improve their services and experiences.
Over the past year, the G.A.M.E. has continued to grow in reach and impact. Roadshows have taken place across several regions, enabling people to influence local action plans and drive meaningful change within their services.
The project has also gained national recognition, winning the Care Innovation Challenge and attracting interest from organisations across the social care sector. Its success demonstrates how creative approaches to co-production can help ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute their views and shape the support they receive.
You can buy your own G.A.M.E here.
The Making Change Group
At the heart of co-production across Making Space is our Making Change Group.
The group brings together people who draw on support, carers, volunteers, Trustees and colleagues to work collaboratively on projects that improve services and influence organisational development.
This year has seen an exciting new chapter for the group, with enhanced co-chair roles, themed meetings and workshop-based discussions that encourage even greater participation.
The Making Change Group plays a key role in shaping many aspects of Making Space, including:
- developing and reviewing our Making It Real programme
- supporting co-production learning
- improving involvement in recruitment processes
- influencing volunteer programmes
- contributing to organisational surveys, events and service improvements.
Accessibility and inclusion remain central to the group's work. To help make meetings more engaging and accessible, we've introduced visual meeting summaries created by talented artists who join meetings and capture discussions through illustrations. These provide an alternative to traditional written notes, helping attendees revisit key themes and making it easier for people with different communication and learning preferences to engage with the group's work.
The group embodies the principles of care equity by ensuring a diverse range of voices are heard, valued and included in decisions that affect services and communities.
Co-production helps us build services that are more inclusive, more responsive and more equitable. Whether it's through leadership opportunities like the Stockport Connect Hub Football Committee, innovative tools such as the Making It Real G.A.M.E., or the ongoing work of the Making Change Group, we are committed to creating opportunities for people to influence the decisions that affect their lives.
As we celebrate Co-production Week 2026, we recognise the vital role that partnership, shared decision-making and lived experience play in creating fairer social care and stronger communities.
Click here to learn more about co-production at Making Space or to get involved, contact us at [email protected].
You can also learn more about Co-production Week and the webinars and workshops taking place via SCIE: scie.info/Co-production-Week-SCIE
You can also join the conversation online using #CoProductionWeek2026 and #CareEquity.