Co-production Week 2026

Care equity: who gets care?

SCIE’s Co-production Week 2026 runs from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July, championing the power of co-production in shaping better, more inclusive social care. This year’s theme is Care Equity — exploring what it means to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances, has equal access to high-quality social care. 

Co-production Week highlights how working in genuine partnership leads to stronger, more responsive services. It brings together people who use services, carers, practitioners and organisations to share learning, inspire good practice, and spark important conversations about the future of care.  

What is co-production?  

Co-production is about working in equal partnership with people receiving social care, carers and families, so that they can influence the way that services are designed, commissioned and delivered. It offers the chance to transform health and social care to a model that offers people real choice and control.  By working this way, we can build systems that truly reflect people’s needs, strengths and aspirations.  

Why it matters?  

Throughout the week, we will:  

• Highlight the benefits of co-production in practice  
• Share examples of effective and meaningful partnership working  
• Stimulate discussion and debate  
• Celebrate the contributions of people with lived experience and carers

This year’s theme   

Care equity sits at the heart of SCIE’s work. In April 2026 we launched the Care Equity Evidence Hub, a curated resource bringing together research, case studies and data on inequities in access to, experience of, and outcomes from social care. Co-production Week 2026 will build on that foundation — exploring how working in genuine partnership with people who draw on care and support can drive meaningful progress towards equity. 

The theme puts equity at the centre of the conversation and challenges us to reflect on:

• who is involved in shaping services
• whose voices are heard and whose are missing
• how we can break down barriers and promote inclusion
• what fairness really looks like in care and support.

Equity in co-production means ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to contribute, particularly those whose voices are too often overlooked. It’s about embedding fairness, respect and inclusion at every stage of design and delivery.

Get involved  

Whether you’re a professional, a person with lived experience, or part of a community organisation, there are many ways to take part:  

• join events and discussions throughout the week  
• share your co-production stories and achievements  
• reflect on how your organisation promotes equitable partnerships  
• start conversations about improving practice. 

Let’s come together to explore ‘Who gets care?’ and work towards a future where co-production and equity are at the heart of social care.  

Find out more: webinar schedule coming soon

We will be hosting a series of webinars throughout the week, check back here shortly for the full schedule of activity.