Co-production is a term that many organisations use, but people often mean very different things when they talk about it. Across Greater Manchester there were questions about power, participation, community ownership, inclusion and how organisations could move beyond consultation towards genuine collaboration.  

At the same time, there was a risk that people would focus too heavily on methods and processes rather than the relationships and culture needed to make co-production successful. Participants told us they wanted practical examples, opportunities to explore challenges honestly and spaces where they could learn from people doing the work on the ground.  

The challenge was therefore not simply to host events, but to create a series of experiences that encouraged reflection, curiosity, experimentation and collective learning across a wide range of perspectives.  

Collaborate Out Loud worked with partners to design and coordinate the GM Moving Big Co-Production Conversation, a two-week programme of learning, exploration and action. The programme brought together community organisations, public services, facilitators, artists, residents and system leaders through a series of themed spaces designed around topics participants said were important to them.  

More than twenty different sessions were delivered covering topics such as power sharing, community-led approaches, digital collaboration, conflict, creativity, community power, violence reduction, engagement, participatory democracy and making space for seldom-heard voices. Participants were able to explore both the theory and practice of co-production through workshops, discussions, storytelling, creative methods and peer learning.  

Collaborate Out Loud also facilitated conversations around tools and approaches that support collaboration, including the Collaborate Out Loud Canvas, digital engagement tools and community-led methods. The overall design intentionally created opportunities for people to connect across organisational and community boundaries while exploring real-world challenges together.  

Throughout the programme, the emphasis remained on creating open spaces where people could learn from one another rather than positioning any single organisation or approach as having the answers.  

The programme created a rich conversation about the future of co-production across Greater Manchester. Participants came together from different backgrounds, sectors and communities to share experiences, test ideas and build new relationships.  

As the programme evolved, several clear themes emerged. Participants encouraged one another to step back and think differently about whether systems were genuinely supporting community independence or simply creating new forms of dependency. There was a strong recognition that there is no simple toolkit or step-by-step guide for meaningful co-production and that successful work depends on relationships, trust and context.  

The programme also reinforced the value of creating dedicated spaces for reflection and learning. Participants highlighted the importance of having opportunities to discuss the challenges of collaboration, explore assumptions, embrace creativity and develop stronger connections with one another.  

Perhaps most importantly, the conversation helped strengthen a growing network of people committed to community power and co-production across Greater Manchester. Rather than ending when the programme finished, participants expressed enthusiasm for continuing the conversations, developing local activity and building stronger connections between the many people already working towards similar goals.  

We learned that people are hungry for spaces where they can think differently together. The most valued conversations were often those where people could explore uncertainty, challenge assumptions and discuss the realities of trying to work differently within complex systems.  

We learned that relationships matter more than toolkits. Participants consistently highlighted the importance of trust, collaboration and ongoing dialogue rather than searching for a single method or framework that could be applied everywhere.  

We also learned that creativity has an important role to play in co-production. Drama, storytelling, visual approaches, digital tools and community-led activities all provided different ways for people to engage, contribute and learn.  

Most importantly, we learned that meaningful co-production starts with curiosity. When people move beyond assumptions, create time to listen and build genuine relationships, they become much better equipped to share power, work alongside communities and create change together. The conversation confirmed that there is no finish line for this work, only a growing movement of people committed to continuing the journey.