Co-pro Ideas Clinics
These informal, peer-learning events are the place to come together to get into the nuts and bolts of co-production – somewhere to discuss and explore your experiences and talk about new ideas and tricky problems.
In this collaborative and friendly space, you can able to use your knowledge to help others, receive support and advice, and make connections with likeminded co-producers from across Scotland and beyond.
Our sessions generally start with brief presentations from our members who have an idea or issue to share. People are then then be free to choose what to dig into in the subsequent breakout rooms and get into some substantial discussion - all managed by our experienced facilitators and online producers.
Our previous clinics have produced some fantastic ideas and in-depth discussion about the topics which matter to us all as co-producers - for example incentives and remuneration for co-production participants, how to ensure good practice while not stifling creative methods, ethics and safety within co-produced processes, the issue of how to ensure diversity within your practice and how to properly address power imbalances within the processes we use.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please email Sheena Fletcher for more information.
Past clinics
March 2026 - In this Ideas Clinic Spotlight session, the SCN team presented on tools and techniques around facilitating co-production processes, using the Co-production Guide and to explore what it takes to support meaningful participation, what works and why and how we ensure we hear from those voices who are often ignored.
Due to high demand, this Ideas Clinic session was offered as a webinar - watch the webinar.
June 2025 - In this Ideas Clinic, we focused on some of the innovative work our network members have been doing recently. We heard from Louise Kelly at the Care Inspectorate about how they have used the James Lind Alliance method of collaborative priority setting in a project supporting people living at home with neurological conditions.
We also heard from Helen Berry, Doctoral researcher at the Binks Hub, University of Edinburgh about her research exploring how we think about, know and show the value of co-producing research with communities in Scotland, during a time of deep funding pressure.
February 2025 - This clinic looked at the challenges to co-production, and wider participation, within large organisations such as local authorities, the NHS, and other services. Organisations like this can have policies and systems which create barriers to carrying out meaningful engagement work and to taking action on issues identified by co-productive processes. We also heard from colleagues looking for advice about a peer support group who are finding it challenging to get engaged in coproducing the future shape of their group.
September 2024 - This session looked at a range of issues relating to co-production, presented by members of the SCN network who were looking for inspiration and support in their practice.
June 2024 - This session focused on what we as the Scottish Co-production Network can do to support your co-pro in practice, with three different discussion topics led by members of the SCN team.
We also held two clinics in 2023 and have written up some of the presentations and learning in these case studies:
Starting with a blank page - Paul Stevenson from Bethany Christian Trust reflects on his experiences starting out on a new co-production project.
How do we make co-production work? Just ask the experts! - Michelle McBride, Volunteer Engagement Officer at VOX Scotland reflects on making co-production work and embedding these principles in their work.
Recognising and rewarding co-design - Zsara McEwan from GCVS reflects on the creation of a co-design remuneration and rewards policy which was part of a wider project aimed at changing the way family support services are procured and designed.
Navigating the co-creation conundrum - Niamh Smith from Health CASCADE reflects on her experiences at our August Ideas Clinic and on some of the challenges involved in creating an evidence-based co-production training package.
