Adapting in Adversity: Addressing Multiple Disadvantage and Co-production in COVID-19

Introduction

This report explores how organisations used co-production to support people experiencing multiple disadvantages during the COVID-19 pandemic. It looks at how services adapted and how people with lived experience helped shape responses. The findings aim to inform funders, service providers and policymakers working with people facing complex disadvantages.

Findings

The paper highlights that co-production helped services respond to the challenges of the pandemic. Projects with strong relationships with people with lived experience adapted more quickly. These relationships helped services understand changing needs and adjust support.

The paper shows that:

• trusted relationships helped services stay connected with people facing multiple disadvantages

• people with lived experience helped shape service changes during the pandemic

• digital methods helped some people take part but excluded others

• flexible funding helped projects respond quickly to changing needs

• partnerships supported more coordinated responses between services