After three co-production workshops in early 2023 with team members from Colchester Borough Homes, Colchester YMCA, Emmaus Colchester, Peabody Colchester, and YES Colchester, we’re entering our next phase of the project.
These workshops focussed on developing shared values with the organisations involved. Through these workshops, we explored strength- and asset-based approaches, open questions, incentives, and the different pathways people travel towards getting housed.
Our approach was solutions-focused and engaging, with an emphasis on building trust and fostering open, honest communication. We wanted to create a space where everyone felt welcome to share their thoughts and ideas. This was especially true on the third day, when each of the organisations brought one or two people they were working with. Hearing the overlap of experiences and — sometimes conflicting — suggestions in the room, meant that we could move towards our next phase.
We next met with Andrew Grimwade from Colchester Borough Homes, Zaneta Daniels-Ireton of Emmaus Colhester and Chelsea Collingridge from Sanctuary Supported Living, to collaborate on the steps of our listening phase — developing a greater understanding of how to involve people living at the community house at Emmaus Colchester, and at Chinook and Queen Elizabeth Way in Sanctuary Supported Living.
Colchester Borough Homes fed back how they appreciated our approachable and empathetic style, as well as our willingness to go the extra mile to ensure that their residents’ needs were heard and understood. We were able to identify areas where they could improve their service delivery, and we worked together to develop strategies to address these issues.
At the heart of our approach is a commitment to honesty, openness, and inclusivity. We believe that everyone deserves to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives, and we’re dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to take an active role in shaping their future.
Now working one day a week in Colchester, we’re visiting Emmaus and Sanctuary Supported Living to understand how to best connect the people living at Emmaus Community House and two Sanctuary locations with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in their tenancies.
Together, we’ll work with their residents to design a delivery model that truly works for them. By taking the time to understand how their team operates and the unique challenges their residents face, we can build a program that’s responsive and effective.
We know that co-producing with residents is the key to success, and we’re committed to going the extra mile to create an inclusive, engaging, and restorative experience.
