15 May 2026
Experts by experience were at the heart of a powerful new chapter for collaborative working across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, as the Coproduction Community officially launched last week.
The event marked the culmination of months of careful planning by a committed Steering Group, including people who have experienced homelessness (experts by experience), who are not only shaping the direction of this work, but also actively facilitating sessions. Their leadership is central to ensuring the community is grounded in trust, respect and real-world insight.
Around half of those attending the launch identified as experts by experience. This intentional balance helped to create a more equal, welcoming space where different perspectives could be heard and valued, and where traditional power dynamics were gently challenged. It also recognised that building trust and confidence is important for everyone in the room, creating an environment where both practitioners and experts by experience can feel safe, supported and able to contribute openly.
Starting with trust and connection
The first gathering focused on building relationships, developing trust, and exploring what co-production means in practice. Rather than rushing to solutions, the session created space for people to listen, reflect and understand each other’s hopes.
This trauma-informed approach recognises that meaningful change happens when people feel safe, respected and able to contribute in ways that work for them, acknowledging that this is vital for practitioners as well as experts by experience.
Shaping solutions together
At the heart of the Coproduction Community is a shared belief: that the most effective ways to prevent, reduce and resolve homelessness must be shaped with people who have experienced it.
By working side-by-side, partners and experts by experience will co-create approaches that are more responsive, more compassionate, and more rooted in reality.
This work will play an important role in delivering BCP’s new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, helping to ensure that plans are informed by real insight and lead to practical, lasting change.
Part of a wider partnership effort
The Coproduction Community is being developed in partnership with BCP’s Poverty Truth Wisdom Lab, which builds on the learning from local Poverty Truth Commissions. The Wisdom Lab supports organisations across BCP to strengthen how they work alongside experts by experience, improving both the quality and impact of services.
The work is also supported by The Royal Foundation’s Homewards programme, which is focused on demonstrating that together, it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.
Looking Ahead
While the launch was an important milestone, it marks just the beginning. The Coproduction Community will continue to meet and grow over the coming months and years, deepening relationships and developing new ways of working together.
A key focus will also be on changing the narrative around homelessness, challenging stigma and ensuring that people are not defined by their experiences.
By building on trust, valuing lived experience, and working collaboratively, practitioners and experts by experience are taking meaningful steps towards a more inclusive and effective response to homelessness across BCP.
