Print This PostThe EMPOWER Dementia Network+ has launched a new Co-production Toolkit, designed to support researchers, practitioners, and community partners to work more effectively with people living with dementia.
Funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), EMPOWER brings together lived experts, community organisations, researchers, and health and care professionals to co-develop inclusive and impactful solutions. At the heart of this work is the principle that research is stronger, more relevant, and more ethical when shaped in partnership with those most affected by its outcomes.
The toolkit provides practical guidance, tools, and resources to embed co-production at every stage of a project – from planning and delivery through to outcomes and dissemination. It draws on learning from real-world case studies, including the PLEDGE group, Sensory Trust, and The Photobook Project, which show the value of shared decision-making and creativity in action.
What the toolkit offers
- Planning guidance – from building trust and ensuring accessibility to setting shared aims and expectations.
- Delivery strategies – with practical advice for running inclusive sessions in-person, online, and in hybrid settings.
- Outcomes and impact – highlighting the importance of recognising lived experts’ contributions and co-producing outputs such as publications, exhibitions, or films.
- Challenges and solutions – offering ways to navigate fluctuating participation, emotional intensity, and the practical realities of living with dementia.
- Top tips and resources – including links to wider guidance, toolkits, and training from across the sector.
Why this matters
The Co-production Toolkit is more than a guide – it is an invitation to re-think how dementia research and practice are shaped. By prioritising equity, shared power, and mutual respect, it ensures that the voices of people with dementia are not only heard but embedded in decisions that affect care, research, and policy.
As one lived expert reflected through the Photobook Project: “This project sewed the seeds from which I now have the confidence to run my own groups in my community. It’s my example of meaningful inclusion.”
Access the toolkit
The full toolkit is available to download here on Dementia Researcher. It is a living resource that will continue to grow, incorporating new tools and insights as co-production practice develops.
For more information or to contribute to future updates, visit empowerdementia.co.uk or contact the EMPOWER Dementia Network+ team at EMPOWER_Dementia_Network@kcl.ac.uk.
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