We are excited to invite you to Stronger Together: a festival of co-production learning with Ageing Better, which starts on 27 April 2021.

Stronger Together follows the introduction of our co-production learning through a recent 10-part webinar series showcasing 12 co-production themes, born out of 6 years of delivery across 14 Ageing Better partner programmes across the country. If you joined us, thanks so much for engaging with us, if you didn’t connect with us during that series, you can take a peek at some of the recordings here.

In the festival we will showcase and celebrate the way that partners in all areas have come together within their communities, volunteers, stakeholders and commissioners to deliver a truly collaborative network of projects, supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The Stronger Together Festival will take place virtually, over three weeks, and will be a celebration of all things co-production.

Week 1: Tuesday 27 April – Friday 30 April

Week 2: Tuesday 11 May to Thursday 13 May

Week 3: Tuesday 18 to Thursday 20 May

Co-production has been at the heart of Ageing Better’s work across all programme areas. We truly recognise the qualities, strengths and experience that citizens in our communities have been able to offer to drive forward the programme, through the setting up, dissemination, design, delivery and evaluation, of services for people aged 50 and over.

We will kick off with a warm welcome from Tony Stacey, CEO of the lead organisation South Yorkshire Housing Association, together with Ageing Better programme representatives from across the network. We have over 50 sessions in store over the course of the festival, including workshops, presentations, co-pro conversations, live panel Q&As, demonstrations and networking events, and even a live interactive game hosted by Ageing Well Torbay to illustrate the strengths and challenges of their Asset Based Community Development approach. Roving reporters will gather feedback to help you to reflect on event takeaways through the online interactive platform Gather Town! You can expect to learn lots, get to the heart of what co-production really means and how it brings all stakeholders together to work towards a common aim.

Our hope is that you will be inspired to take our learning forward and that our festival will provide an opportunity for you to link up with others, both in your own area and nationally.

As well as providing insights and learning, the event will be the official launch of our online Co-Production Toolkit, a unique and easy to navigate a portal that will provide access to stories, tips, ‘How to’ guides and evaluated learning, around our 12 key co-production themes; all of which will be brought to life throughout the festival itself.

The festival programme is intended to offer something for anyone wanting to gain more knowledge about co-production, whatever stage you are at, and from whatever perspective you are coming. Either as a policy maker, a funder, a commissioner, a deliverer of services, or someone wanting to set up a neighbourhood group – all are welcome.

You will hear from those who have been involved in the Ageing Better programme at every stage, from heads of service, to individuals in the community who have set up dance classes in their neighbourhoods! We’ll also be hosting some of the leading names in Co-Production and Community Led Development, with over 20 guest speakers supporting the event.

All sessions will stand alone, allowing you to pick and choose, to get the learning you need and have some fun along the way.

Click to see what’s on offer and sign up to the sessions of your choice through Eventbrite. Once we receive your booking, we will send out confirmation with a pre-attendance booking form to complete.

We look forward to welcoming you!

The Ageing Better co-production team

Time to Shine is one of the 14 Ageing Better programmes in England.