Join our communications co-production panel

The communications co-production panel is a friendly, welcoming group, where volunteers contribute ideas to help shape our communications across our social media, website, newsletters and printed materials, drawing on their mental health lived experience. This input helps us to create engaging and accessible content that is in touch with the experiences of people living with mental health issues and offers new perspectives to help us reach different communities.

This way of working together is called ‘co-production’. Co-production means designing and improving services with the people who use them - and in this case, applying this to communications. The key to co-production is that each member of the group has an equal voice and feels safe and confident in meetings.

Who is in the panel?

The communications co-production panel is a mix of both current and previous West Sussex Mind service users, and people who have never used West Sussex Mind services.

The panel is convened and chaired by Kirsty. There is no need for prior experience in communications, as the panel works through each project together and encourages all perspectives and opinions. Everyone is welcome.

What does the panel do?

Together, the panel works on projects that improve the accessibility, inclusivity, quality and relevance of West Sussex Mind’s communications. Its work includes:

• Reviewing and shaping social media content
• Improving website content and imagery
• Giving feedback on printed materials and posters
• Suggesting creative ways to engage our audiences.

Panel members currently meet online for one to one-and-a-half hours, every four to six weeks, usually on Tuesday evenings. People are encouraged to contribute via email or in a separate one-to-one meeting if they are unable to make a particular meeting – we will always try to accommodate this.

Examples of projects

Here are some recent projects the panel has collaborated with us on:

• Social media. Suggesting ideas for neurodivergent-friendly, inclusive content, particularly around West Sussex Mind's support offer to connect with people experiencing mental health difficulties
  
• Supporters and social activities newsletters. Making changes to improve accessibility and readability
• Website imagery. The panel provided feedback on image authenticity to better reflect lived experience
• Posters and printed materials. The panel helped improve the readability of posters advertising West Sussex Mind services by locality and suggested pocket sized cards with contact details.

What could you get out of joining the communications co-production panel?

• Build confidence to give feedback and input into valuable projects
• Be an integral part of making a difference to mental health services
• Gain voluntary group experience in an understanding and patient environment
• Progress into other volunteering roles, for example, panel chair or other volunteering with West Sussex Mind
• Get training opportunities within West Sussex Mind
• Have opportunities to engage with national Mind in communications workshops and meetings.

Current members have attended staff industry days with the communications team, writing articles reflecting on their own mental health experience and creating social media content. Other members continue to attend West Sussex Mind groups and use its support services.