Toolkit Step 8
The Learning Disabilities Innovation Fund process followed the co-production approach which took longer and cost more. But most importantly, it gave everyone involved an equal voice.
In the 12 projects funded in Round 1, 98 volunteers supported more than 400 people with learning disabilities, contributing more than 1635 hours of unpaid time which equates to £23,200 (source: Wales Council for Voluntary Action). This illustrates the power of grass roots action. The LDIF approach not only provided value for money but a significant coming together of LD groups with local organisations, ranging from town councils to museums and sports clubs, who might never have otherwise made a connection.
Learning Disabilities Innovation Fund
Involving People with Learning Disabilities
FACTS
Round 1 Facts & Figures
LDIF was a co-production initiative between partner agencies and the people they support which followed the principles set out in the West Wales Learning Disability Charter https://www.ldcharter.com
The group members had a stake in making the projects work and in helping to find funding for any future developments. The applicants demonstrated a wide range of capacity and resources. Some felt in need of support with the funding application process but demonstrated resilience and tenacity in their presentations. Others took time to adjust to the ‘bottom up’ approach. This suggests scope for greater communication between them and a need for further support to provide training and networking for all to feel fully integrated.
Running the Learning Development Innovation Fund was an exciting, sometimes challenging, innovative approach to administering a grant scheme. The focus on co-production and on really listening will hopefully be replicated by others in the future.
Pembrokeshire People First, Carmarthenshire People First and Our Voice Our Choice are pioneers in this approach, evident in their championing of the Dream Team which was key to the effectiveness of the LDIF approach.
Combined with other partners’ encouragement and PAVS administering the fund, this made for a strong and effective model of co-production.
LDIF also attracted interest from other organisations reviewing their funding programmes, including the National Lottery. The Wales Funders Forum invited the partnership to make presentation about its different approach to supporting projects for people with learning disabilities.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) featured LDIF as a case study on its website, highlighting the importance of co-production. This organisation ‘improves the lives of people of all ages by co-producing, sharing, and supporting the use of the best available knowledge and evidence about what works in social care and social work’.
Learning Points
- Accessible: a bilingual Easy Read format ensured that the LDIF process was equal for everyone. Potential beneficiaries were involved in writing the applications and the Dream Team Panel members scored the applications and made informed decisions.
- Capacity and confidence: The panel members gained further experience and greater capacity by taking responsibility for their decisions. The applicants expressed their ideas to the Panel, then they went on to successfully run their projects.
- Strengths and weaknesses: Some Panel members showed strength in a specific area which helped in making decisions eg specialist IT knowledge for a website application.
- Change of mindset: The administrators learned when to offer help and when to take a step back. This demonstrated real collaboration and shared 'control' of the process.
- Validity: ensuring that people with learning disabilities made the applications worked well. They were confident in describing their projects, often with passion. This was a different way of working for more formal organizations that employ Fundraising Officers.
- Sustainable: This process of awarding grants ensured that all the services and activities funded were identified as being needed by people with learning disabilities. Successful projects had to show how they were linked to the Charter.
- Adding Value: the LDIF project raised awareness and made people think differently: even those who had experience of working with people with learning disabilities and/or neurodegenerative people. It was about the achievements rather than the challenges - one of the most valuable outcomes of all.
- Impact: the relatively small amount of funding awarded through LDIF made a big difference.