Our approach: coproduction
Creating opportunities for members to share their insights
Giving the people we work with a voice is at the heart of our approach, and we’re committed to implementing it throughout our organisation. We shape and improve our services, holding member feedback weeks twice a year, with focus groups, workshops and questionnaires. Every suggestion is considered and implemented whenever possible.
Our Strategic Plan – which outlines the direction we want the organisation to go in – was coproduced with members. And we’re really proud that around a third of our staff team and over half of our volunteers have lived experience of multiple disadvantage.
Staff, volunteers and members recently came together to co-design a set of principles that encompassed our values and language. The aim was to create an inclusive and safe shared space agreement that all who use Back on Track would respect. We looked at examples of person-centred shared space agreements and asked our members what were the most important things to them. Their views – alongside feedback from staff and volunteers on the design and content – resulted in our new Back on Track shared space agreement. It’s now included on our printed materials and displayed around the centre.
Member celebration events
Anyone who has been to one of our twice yearly celebration events will know how inspiring and uplifting they are. Our members speak about their progress, display work from courses and perform music and poetry – a brilliant way of reminding us that Back on Track is all about the people who come here.
Recruiting new staff
It’s been a busy time lately at Back on Track with lots of exciting new projects – and that means new staff. We think it’s incredibly important that the people they will work with get a say. That’s why we have a panel of members who meet with each candidate, coming up with their own questions. Their views are a key part of how candidates are chosen. And feedback from members tells us how this experience has really built their confidence.
We’re members!
What term should we all use for the people who come to Back on Track? More than 60 people took part in a series of workshops and focus groups to explore how they’d like to be known. A shortlist was drawn up and everyone had the opportunity to vote. The winner was ‘members’ which has now been adopted across the organisation. We all think it perfectly reflects the way people become a valued part of our community.
Many of our members have direct experience of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Over the last year groups have co-designed a reflection toolkit for other organisations to use to become more trauma responsive. The group also designed and produced a zine all about trauma.
