14/04/2010
'The public is desperate to get involved in solving issues that affect them. Co-production offers people who have a strong sense of what's needed on the ground the chance to act'.
People-powered public services could generate savings of up to six times[i] the investment made in them according to a report by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and nef (new economics foundation).
'Public Services Inside Out' examines public services which are designed and delivered by the professionals who run them and people who use them. This 'co-production' approach is more effective at getting the public what they want out of public services and at a reduced cost compared to conventional top-down approaches.
For example, Scallywags in Bethnal Green, London is a childcare provision which involves parents and staff working together. It costs just £2.50 an hour, significantly lower than comparable childcare provision. In addition to making it affordable for parents to go to work, the children benefit from having their parents involved in their education.
Jonathan Kestenbaum, Chief Executive of NESTA, says: 'The public is desperate to get involved in solving issues that affect them. Co-production offers people who have a strong sense of what's needed on the ground the chance to act'.
The report also finds that involving service users encourages people to be productive and take responsibility for their health and wellbeing. Services that build on what people can do for themselves, rather than taking a top-down approach alters the way people perceive themselves and their community.
The case for devolved power in public services is gaining momentum in these cash-strapped times and as demand for services increases. NESTA and nef have been working with practitioners to gather insights on the challenges and successes of applying co-production methods.
David Boyle, one of the report's authors says: 'At stake here is the future shape of our public services, and - of all the possible directions - co-production is one of the most radical, most exciting and most far-reaching. It is a revolution that is already under way, barely noticed by the mainstream and this publication tells some of those powerful pioneering stories'.
The report is the second in a series of three publications being produced to increase the understanding of how co-production works. The organisations will also develop the skills required by professionals to help bring co-production to the mainstream.
'Public Services Inside Out' will be launched today at a panel event featuring Jane Dudman, Editor of Guardian Public, Tony Bovaird, Professor of Public Management and Policy at The Institute of Local Government Studies, and Director of Governance International, Anna Coote, Director of Social Policy, nef and Mark Johnson , User voice.
For further information, please contact:
NESTA: Catherine Anderson: 020 7438 2609/ Catherine.anderson@nesta.org.uk
About NESTA
NESTA is the largest independent endowment in the UK. Its mission is to support innovation to drive economic recovery and solve some of the UK's major social challenges. NESTA is a world leader in its field and promotes innovation through a blend of practical programmes, policy and research and investment in early-stage companies.
About nef
nef is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic wellbeing. We aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environmental and social issues. We work in partnership and put people and the planet first.
www.neweconomics.org
[i] Evidence coming from the US is that services implementing co-production, such as the Family Nurse Partnership, can also save significant amounts of money. For every $1 invested in the Family Nurse Partnership, research shows that between $2.88 and $5.70 is saved from future public expenditure across health, criminal justice and social support services, and the savings are greatest for those defined as 'high-risk'. It was identified as the most cost-effective child welfare and home visiting programme in a study by Washington State Institute for Public Policy. Source: Department of Health (2009) 'Family Nurse Partnership: Information for commissioners.' London: Department of Health.
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