Co-Production Conference

On the 29 February 2024 the Mental Health Lived Experience team co-hosted the second Co-producing Co-production conference at the Brighthelm Centre along with Changing Futures Sussex and Capital Project Trust.

The aim of the conference was to share:

• Good practice from people and organisations providing services for people experiencing multiple disadvantage across Sussex
• The impact and difference we are all making
• Our learning, resources and observations

Around 80 people attended the conference from all over Sussex. There were presentations from a variety of different organisations and a marketplace with stalls where attendees could find out more about them and others. It was an amazing opportunity to connect and plan for the future of co-production.

Particularly successful was the group presentation by members of the LEAG (Live Experience Advisory Group) who all worked together to give an informative and inspiring talk.

There was some great feedback from attendees who left feeling positive;

“It was a great day and you were all brilliant.

Thanks for lifting my spirits.”

How does Possability People engage and support people with lived experience?

• We facilitate Lived Experience Advisory Groups across Sussex for people to share their experiences and opinions about mental health services.
• We support the attendance of people in strategic meetings when they have had lived experience of those specific services/themes.
• We offer check-ins with people before, during and after meetings to check their well-being and understanding.
• We offer reimbursement of people’s time for their involvement.
• Mentoring and peer support opportunities are encouraged within the groups.
• We arrange social meet-ups for the groups and support making connections across the group.
• We offer regular opportunities for people to meet with the facilitators to discuss their support needs and personal development.