Co-production boosts patients’ skills, confidence and purpose across the charity

Co-production is transforming the way patients engage in meaningful activities across St Andrew's Healthcare, helping people develop confidence, learn new skills and play an active role in shaping their recovery.

As a charity-wide approach, co-production brings together patients, staff, carers, volunteers and others, recognising that everyone has valuable knowledge, skills and experiences to contribute.

By working together as equal partners, activities and opportunities can be tailored to what matters most to each person, supporting both wellbeing and personal development.

Two recent projects have demonstrated the powerful impact co-production can have when patients are given the opportunity to shape activities around what is meaningful to them.

In one project, a patient worked alongside Specialist Technical Instructor Megan Temple in the Light and Heavy Workshop to create a bespoke prayer mat.

The Light and Heavy Workshop provides patients with opportunities to build practical skills, improve confidence, and develop social connections through hands-on learning.

It’s a place where patients begin building foundational skills in woodwork and textiles.

In woodwork, they are introduced to hand tools to create woodwork projects, helping them gain basic skills and confidence.

Recognising the important role faith played in the patient's life, Megan developed the idea after creating a sample prayer mat to showcase what could be achieved.

The patient went on to design and make their own prayer mat from scratch, selecting black velvet fabric and gold tassels to create a final piece that reflected their personal preferences.

Throughout the process, they learned a range of new sewing techniques while developing patience, confidence and attention to detail. The finished prayer mat is now used during daily prayer and has since inspired other patients to create similar pieces, including making prayer mats as gifts for loved ones.

A second project saw patient Graham* bring a long-held creative idea to life by designing and building a traditional "Chuck a Duck" fairground game.

Working alongside staff he used reclaimed and recycled wood to construct the game entirely from scratch.

Drawing on skills developed through previous woodworking sessions and inspired by a love of vintage attractions, Graham carefully planned and crafted the game before it became a highlight of summer celebrations across the Northampton site.

The finished attraction was enjoyed by hundreds of patients, staff and volunteers across several wards and services, creating opportunities for fun, social interaction and connection.

Reflecting on the projects, Megan Temple said: “Co-production is about finding out what is important to the individual and using that as a starting point for meaningful activity.

“When people are involved in creating something that connects with their interests, beliefs or experiences, they are often more motivated to engage, develop new skills and build confidence.

“Both of these projects show how co-production can deliver benefits far beyond the activity itself. Patients gained practical skills and a sense of achievement, while also creating something that had value for themselves and others.”

Jackie Branston, Head of Occupational Therapy, added: “These projects highlight the power of personalised, co-produced activities. By working in partnership with patients and building opportunities around their interests and goals, we can support wellbeing, encourage skill development and help people engage in meaningful occupations that contribute positively to their recovery journey.

“Most importantly, co-production ensures that people feel heard, valued and empowered, which is central to everything we do across St Andrew's Healthcare.”

From creating a prayer mat that supports personal faith to building a fairground game that brings enjoyment to an entire community, these projects demonstrate how co-production can help transform individual ideas into meaningful outcomes, benefiting both patients and those around them.

*Patient name changed to protect identity.