1. What does your organisation do and who do you work with? What is your role?
We are My Life My Choice, we are for people with a learning disability and autism. I am Benjamin McCay, co-chair of the Trustee board.
2. Why is co-creation a priority in your work?
Because everything we do is led by people with a learning disability, we are 100 percent user-led and everything is co-produced.
3. What is in place to make your services more accessible?
We put nearly all our materials into Easy Read, all our meetings are accessible as possible and use communication aids like traffic light cards and ensure everyone gets a chance to speak.
4. How do you currently involve users to create and develop services?
All of our trustees are members and have lived experience of a learning disability. We encourage members to take part in paid and voluntary work within the organisation and have a specific Consultant role for very experienced members. In addition our members are asked their opinions on everything, at our groups, in our communications and when we make big policy changes.
5. What changes have been made as a result of co-creation?
Everything has always been co-produced at My Life My Choice and always will be.
6. What organisational benefits have you had from co-creation?
Our members get the services they want. Although we feel it should be standard practice, being genuinely user-led has become our unique selling point and we think is one of the reasons why we are in a good place as an organisation.
7. What top tips would you share with an organisation that wants to involve users in shaping their services?
Make sure documents and meetings are accessible and at a time people can make, including Easy Read if needed. Have people with lived experience on your board.
8. Lessons learned around co-creation –
Getting people from lots of different backgrounds and gender, it isn’t always easy to guarantee how diverse a lived experience board will be.
More about My Life My Choice
