Mary Seacole Housing decided to use a method called co-production when designing and developing the Information Against Exploitation booklet. This method was used as we wanted to gain the best information and make sure that the booklet is appealing to the correct target group.
Research has shown that co-produced services and projects have a higher success rate and have the best impact on the target groups. This is because you gain the best information and results as you get shared expertise from professionals and the knowledge and expertise from people with lived experience.
Mary Seacole Housing safeguarding lead was present at all workshops, and was available to support anyone who attended training and needed support with sensitive topics discussed. Contact detail for support agencies were also available for all participants that attended the workshops, these were provided in case the topics that were discussed in the workshop triggered any historic memories.
Mary Seacole Housing decided to hold five workshops for both professionals and people with lived experiences. The aim of these workshops were to decide what information will be going into the booklet and to find the best design for the booklet. Each workshop contained 10 to 20 people and lasted up to four hours. In between each workshop session MSHA staff would work on the booklet alongside professionals and people with lived experience.
The aim of the workshops was to choose a design for the booklet and looked closely at the layout, colours, images and texts that should be used. The workshop also looked at what content should go into the booklet, case studies were written for the booklet, research was done to find exploitation information and legal rights for the booklet.
There were a number of different learning methods and ways used to gain information in each session such as, exploitation training sessions, training on different types of rights in the UK, group discussions, one to one discussions, research sessions, group activity sessions and role play. We decided to use a different range of methods to ensure all learning styles were met and all participants in the workshop were able to get involved in all aspects of the project.
