Designing the Future of Sport and Physical Activity Together
A lot of sport and physical activity have teamwork at their heart. So why, when it comes to designing and shaping what physical activity looks like for Disabled people, do we do it alone? What if we worked together as a team to shape projects and activities, not just organisations in isolation but working alongside communities, individuals with lived experience, coaches, other organisations and community groups?
What is co-production?
Co-production is not asking people for one off pieces of feedback or asking for their opinions. It means truly working together in partnership to design and deliver projects, services and activities that work for everyone. One of the key principles of co-production is sharing power – one person is not more important than the other, because everyone has assets, skills and knowledge to bring to the process.
The co-production narrative
The Co-Production Narrative is a new resource designed to help the sport sector embed co-production into their work, transforming the way decisions are made and ensuring Disabled people and communities are at the heart of the process. However, even if you’re not working in the sport sector – the information is easily accessible and transferable into other contexts.
Why Does It Matter?
Disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive than non-disabled people (Activity Alliance, 2024). This shouldn’t be the case. Everyone has the right to be active in a way that works for them. However, Disabled people continue to face many barriers when it comes to taking part in physical activity.
Co-production can change this. Working together in this way and including Disabled people in the design and delivery of physical activity, can help to remove these barriers because Disabled people are telling you what works and what doesn’t from the beginning. This means you’re more likely to get it right - you’re not guessing or having to backtrack when things don’t work. As well as this, when people feel heard, valued, and empowered, they’re more likely to engage, participate, and help build something meaningful together.
By embedding co-production, your organisation can:
- Ensure that decisions reflect real needs and experiences
- Create stronger, more inclusive programs
- Build lasting relationships with communities
Start your journey now
Our new co-production narrative can help you to understand what co-production is and how it can help your organisation. It’s packed with practical advice, insights, and real-world examples to help organisations make co-production a reality.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in – whether you are at the start of your journey, or are already engaging with Disabled people but want to do more, it’s a resource that is open to everyone. Take a look here.