Co-Creation Training

About Co-Creation Training

Our co-creation training for Charities, CIOs, CICs and grassroots groups is aimed at those curious to discover the value of co-creation in their specific context, as well as those who want to strengthen existing approaches to co-creation.  

In a nutshell, “co-creation” is the act of working with not for people. In our context this means working with at least 50% people with lived experience of homelessness at all times andmaking choices that ensure those with lived experience expertise are driving creative outputs and decision-making across everything we do.  

At AHI, we live and breathe co-creation. It is not simply a training topic; it is how we work. We were founded as a co-created organisation in 2016, and lived experience expertise continues to shape our projects, training and organisational development. We work with people, not for them, bringing together lived, creative and professional expertise and recognising the value of each. 

These days, we are considered leaders in the co-creation field and regularly deliver world-class co-creation trainings for organisations and groups across sectors, with recent examples including for the National Adult Safeguarding Board, Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance, and Arts and Social Outcomes Network among others. 

The impact of co-creation can be seismic. It can: 

• Share leadership and decision-making with more people 
• Diversify workforces, bringing new perspectives, identities and lived experiences into teams 
• Rapidly up-skill new staff and freelancers 
• Transform charities/CIOs/CICs so they are serviced by those they seek to serve. This is particularly the case for social justice organisations who, historically, are run by people who don’thave lived experience making decisions ‘on behalf’ of those who do 
• Lead to exciting new governance structures  
• Put people with lived experience expertise at the centre of the decisions that impact them  
• Strengthen the case for funding
• Accelerate the pace of systems change 

“There was so much care, expertise and knowledge that went into the day and so many people spoke to me afterwards about how much they gained and how much food for thought it gave them. I can really feel this is the beginning of some more joined up and exciting work” Barbican Centre, London  

What can co-creation training do for my organisation? 

We offer a half day, full day and 2 day co-creation training. 2 day trainings can be delivered across 2 consecutive days, or in phases depending on the needs of your organisation. We can deliver trainings in-person or online. 

Half day 

• What is co-creation? Understanding the difference between consultation and co-production 

• Discover the value of working ‘with’ not ‘for’ people  

• 10 cultural and 10 practical shifts a project should embed in order to develop co-creation 

• How to give away power to create power 

• The 3 stages of good co-creation: Before, during and afterwards 

Full day  

• All half day training outcomes listed above plus 

• Create bespoke co-design and co-delivery processes in support of your mission 

2-day 

• All half and full day training outcomes listed above plus 

• An initial hour consult with your booked trainer to scope the particular learning needs of your individual organisation, allowing us to tailor the workshop to your individual needs 

• Co-creation in practice: co-create and co-deliver something from start to finish 

• What is Radical co-creation? Discover non-hierarchical governance and structure models driven by an ethos of power sharing 

• The role of the Board in co-creation & 10-steps we followed which resulted in the Charity Commission giving us permission to pay Trustees 

• The relationship between co-creation and your case for funding 

• The relationship between co-creation and climate justice

How has co-creation made change at AHI? 

Our co-creation approach has led to: 

• Helping local authorities co-create Rough Sleeping Strategies that reflect lived experience and recognise the role of arts and creativity 

• Ongoing paid freelance work for a cohort of 32 Associates who have experienced homelessness 

• A radical governance decision in 2024 that means we now operate in a flat structure, with 3 Co-Directors and all staff paid the same  

• Payment for Trustees with lived experience (following permission, in 2025, from the Charity Commission) 

• Many allies now embracing co-creation daily as a result of our trainings, leading to measurable systems change in arts and health, arts & justice, arts and disability sectors among others

Are you an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation…? Our Co-creation training can support you to deliver on Arts Council England’s Inclusivity & Relevance Investment Principle.Our trauma-conscious, equity-rooted approach is already helping organisations with:

– Board and workforce representation
– Creating safer, more welcoming cultural spaces
– Embedding co-creation and lived experience at every level 

Did you know? All our trainings are delivered by an AHI Co-Director and an Associate Artist with lived experience expertise. Income from our trainings directly support the ongoing professional development of arts facilitators and leaders who are or have been homeless.