We’ve enjoyed taking part in Scotland’s Coproduction Week recently and hearing about the impact coproduction approaches make to people’s lives and the services and activities they participate in. We’re looking forward to seeing the Scottish Coproduction Network’s national vision for coproduction in Scotland next year which we hope will raise the profile of this way of working.

Much of the work we’re involved with has coproduction at its core – whether the projects themselves are aware of the concept or use the term itself. We did an evaluation of a mental health peer support network in North Lanarkshire earlier this year and it was clear that the network would not have been half as successful if the members didn’t have a significant level of responsibility over how it was run.

Set up and facilitated by Neighbourhood Networks, the Wishaw Peer Support Network provides an opportunity for people with long-term poor mental health to have informal support among peers. Most people involved in the network have experience of previously being supported in more formal ways with set amounts of support time that gradually taper off. This peer support network arose from the understanding that such an approach does not work well for everyone and that more informal, preventative, but very low-level support would be useful for some people.

Meeting at least once a week, the network gives its members – who are involved on an entirely voluntary basis – regular contact with people in a supportive space where the easy and enjoyable aspects are shared alongside, the difficult and more complicated bits of day to day life.   The network gives the members the beginnings of a structure for the week and the benefits of friendship and companionship.

Discussing the network with its members, we were given a host of positive reflections which give a strong picture of how it works and why it has become so valued by those involved:

“The network fills a void for people who need some help but not lots of help.”

“Without the network we would be overlooked until there was a problem and in most cases a big problem. But this way we have regular contact with people so the problems and issues don’t get quite so big.”

 “Before the network – I had no travel, no activities, nothing. I still have a mental illness but can go to the group and feel comfortable.”

 “The network has given me more purpose and now I meet more people and more people with poor mental health – we are all in the same boat.”

“It might sound daft but to hear about other people’s problems makes me realise that everyone has things going on and it’s not just me. We all have ups and downs and can help each other.”

Read our full report: Evaluation and review of the effectiveness and impact of the Wishaw Peer Support Network