1. The Co-production of Social Inclusion Findings from a cross-national study of EU funded urban renewal initiatives Hans Schlappa Aston University h.schlappa@aston.ac.uk 14 th May 2008

2. The Concept of Co-production Production of services require the active participation of beneficiaries –Service provision as a process Co-production occurs when consumers and producers undertake efforts to produce the same services –Planning, management or delivery of services Parallel production –Partnerships; regeneration programmes Regular production –Public officials design and provide services

3. Co-production and TSOs TSOs are important providers of government funded public services –Social inclusion TSOs are perceived to be closer to the intended beneficiaries Urban regeneration programmes aim for co- production Partnership and policy analysis are dominant analytical perspectives –Co-production as a complementary perspective –Focus on organisations

4. The Study Exploring organisational impacts resulting from public sector funding –Organisation theory Cross-national comparison –EU funding –URBAN II Case study approach –Qualitative methodology

5. The Sample Three very different URBAN II sites: Belfast, Berlin and Bristol Nine TSOs with contrasting characteristics and projects –Turnover range from £4mio - £20k –No paid staff to 130 paid staff –Building refurbishment to bereavement counselling 44 semi-structured interviews: 36 with TSOs and 8 with Local Development Partnership

6. Findings : Challenges encountered Administration of funding Demanding application process Lack of access to decision making process Poor relationships with public agencies Lack of funding for new services Managing organisational growth Exposure to changes in policy Maintaining independence from public agencies

7. Findings : Benefits obtained Improved organisational structure and process New services Development of volunteering and volunteers Development of governing bdoy Stronger links with residents Better links with public agencies Stronger networks Increased profile amongst funders Better premises

8. Focus on Co-production: The Programme Manager Develops management committee Joint planning Develops administrative systems Arranges secondments of expert staff Administers TSO funding Buffer between TSOs and public agencies Trades control for collaboration

9. Focus on Co-production: The TSO Small, emergent, vulnerable Wants to bring about organisational change Chooses projects that support organisational goals Rapid change and intensive strain Change process is challenge, but outcome is beneficial –Sustainability –Capability

10. Focus on Co-production: Blurring organisational boundaries The project and the TSO matter Project Manager and TSO are accountable for the outcome Project Manager acts as a member of the TSO for periods of time Beneficiaries of service are involved at all levels –Volunteers –Governing body –Residents

11. Focus on Co-production: Regular and parallel production Commissioning of services from TSOs is a barrier to co-production Little organisational change Little involvement of residents Public agencies are off-loading responsibilities

12. Discussion: The programme manager as a capacity builder Substantial access to resources and technical skills –Needs ability and authority to appreciate and nurture differences Important function as facilitator –Accountable to beneficiaries on both sides –Move focus beyond contracts to collaboration Interventions that include marginalised people –Volunteering! –Accountability –Inclusion

13. Discussion: EU funding as a capacity building resource It is not the EU funding conditions that make it difficult for TSOs –Public agencies have choices Insisting on inclusion of TSOs in EU funded regeneration projects is important –Encourages change Co-production is possible within current regulations –There are few excuses

14. Conclusions: Co-production and organisational change Co-production and positive organisational change –Participants, structure, technology, goals –Improved ability to connect with their environment –Increased profile, independence and influence Co-production is more than partnership working and less the incorporation Commissioning barrier to co-production Need for more empirical and theoretical research