Welcome to Cornwall Together We Can Forum
At Cornwall Council, we believe the best services are built with the community - not just for it. That’s why co-production is at the heart of everything we do.
Whether it’s:
shaping local spaces
designing support services
solving shared challenges
we’re working side-by-side with residents to create solutions that truly reflect your needs, ideas, and aspirations.
Your voice matters - and we’re listening.
Through:
open conversations
collaborative planning, and
shared decision-making
we’re building a future where services are not just delivered to the community, but with the community.
We’re excited about what we can achieve - together. Explore, get involved, and help us shape a Cornwall that works for everyone.
Let’s create something amazing together.
Background
Our Personalisation Programme launched in summer 2023. The Personalisation Programme has aimed to support:
independence
rethink care options
focus on prevention and community-based support
We quickly learned that true personalisation means sharing power. And that meant embracing co-production.
We invited over 80 Experts by Experience to help us co-design changes in the council, not just consult. Their honest feedback has started to shape everything we do, based on the seven keys to citizenship. Together, we created a Co-Production Framework that clearly sets out how we work, what people can expect, and includes fair pay for their time.
Council’s Leadership backed this fully. The Forum is co-chaired by:
David Burns, an expert by lived experience
our Strategic Director of Adult Social Services, Ali Bulman
We are building a Practical Toolkit to help teams embed co-production in daily work. It’s full of open tools, values-based guidance, and strengths-based planning tips. And we didn’t stop there - we co-produced training too, which was delivered with people with lived experience.
This approach is already making a difference. Co-production is driving real change. From shaping “I” and “We” statements and redesigning services. Examples of this are our Day Opportunities and Direct Payments support options.
In early 2025, we brought people together - most with lived experience - to shape the future. The result: a new two-part model:
A Forum to oversee co-production
The Hub, where ideas are shared, service can be shaped and opportunities to get involved in co-production are advertised
It’s about trust, transparency, and working together.
Now, co-production is growing beyond social care. We are keen for Experts by Experience to help shape everything from housing to transport. We’re not just changing how we work - we’re changing who we work with. And that’s how we’re building a Cornwall that works for everyone.
Together We Can Forum
In Cornwall our co-production form was named The Together We Can Forum. Our agreed work plan for 2026 is here.
Our Shared Commitment
These values were co-produced by the forum members.
Everyone involved whether receiving care, giving it, or working in services is a person first.
We are all part of the same community, bringing our experience, skills, and humanity to this work. These values have been co-produced to reflect what matters most to us all and we all commit to them equally.
Our Values
Each value represents what we believe in and how we work together:
1. Inclusion
Together, we include everyone - whatever their ability, background, or circumstances.
2. Respect
We treat each other with dignity and value everyone’s identity, experience, and contribution.
3. Ownership
We design, shape, and lead programs together - equally and from the start.
4. Transparency
We are open about how decisions are made, who is involved, and keep everyone informed about what happens as a result of our work.
5. Empowerment
We support each other to lead, influence, and shape our own lives and communities.
6. Accessibility
We make sure that everything - programs, spaces, and information - is usable and welcoming to all.
7. Accountability
We all take shared responsibility for what we agree to and the outcomes we work towards.
8. Flexibility
We shape support around people’s lives, not the other way around. People can make changes when they need to.
9. Equity
We work to make sure everyone has fair access to what they need, recognising that needs differ.
10. Kindness
We treat each other with kindness, and we put care and compassion at the heart of everything we do.
Why These Values Matter?
They guide every decision, every conversation, and every action we take. By committing to these principles, we create a culture where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered.
