Page 19 - WCEN Dr Rochelle Burgess evaluation report\ Baloon

These two differences ultimately contribute to a coproduction model where statutory and community
partners operate from within a shared platform as one network, in contrast to other models (see
figure 1 below).

PUBLIC
AGENCY Increased Increased
INPUTS agency level of
activities outputs
Individual

Increased
COPRODUCTION partnership
NETWORK
activities
Public
Community Agency
CITIZE
Increased Improved
N
individual Quality
Co-produciton
of
services
CITIZEN
INPUTS Increased
community
Co-produciton

Self help and
self
organising
ACTIVITIES

Figure 1: WCEN vs. Bovaird & Loeffler 2012 coproduction model (individual citizens, communities and statutory agents in
shared space vs. citizens and agencies as independent agents to a shared goal)

Within WCEN, there was evidence of overt recognition of power asymmetries between groups who are
typically involved in the coproduction process. The WCEN director’s acknowledgement of this inequality
ultimately shaped and informed a process of engagement that was tailored to statutory and community
organisations in different ways, in line with the types of power that each group held. In particular, there
is an acknowledgement of the fact that the two groups are not created equal in terms of resources and
understandings that those who hold positions of authority linked to positions of power or specialisation
often dominate group spaces in terms of contributing ideas (Mischler, 1984). Notes from observations
of network meetings involving both community and statutory partners highlight explicit practices of
inclusion to ensure equal participation in spaces where community members may be less likely to
contribute to the development of ideas. For example, in sessions such as the BME mental health forum
or coproduction reference group meetings, direct contributions were invited from community participants
if they were not contributing equally. A history of such practices were confirmed in accounts from
community organisations network members during interviews and focus group discussions. For example:

…. I sit on a couple of different boards now and as a result of sitting on those boards, I’m able
to take my knowledge in to these spaces and all of that has grown out of the work that Malik
and WCEN did in terms of setting up those relationships… so I’ve sort of followed really in his
footsteps, as he has encountered and established relationships he created spaces for us to do
that. – Community organisations interview, Female