Working together
When we bring people together to form a community recruitment group, we’re bringing different types of people into one space to work together. This kind of working is often called coproduction. Coproduction simply means working together, sharing decisions and ideas, and creating something with people, not for them.
Relationships are central to coproduction. It only works when people truly work with each other, not just side by side. Good relationships help people understand one another’s views, needs, and strengths, which leads to better decisions together.
Setting a collaborative tone early on—where community members and professionals feel equally welcome—helps the group get off to a strong start. Everyone should feel included, whether they’re managers, frontline staff, volunteers, or people with lived experience. Starting with kindness, getting to know each other a bit, and making some personal connections can make the group’s work smoother and more meaningful. Simple questions like “Where do you live?”, “What do you enjoy doing?”, or “Do you have any pets?” can help people feel seen and included.
It also helps if everyone has a shared understanding of the challenges before getting started. Setting clear, consistent goals that everyone understands and agrees on is an important part of working well together.
Purpose of Group
It is recommended that during initial group discussions the purpose and goals of the group are decided and made clear. A link to a template document with questions to ask group members, and a template purpose statement which can be tailored to your groups goal can be found here: LINK TO PURPOSE OF GROUP TEMPLATE Links to more information about co-production can be found here Scottish Co-production Network a short video about co production is available here What is Co-production? (Animation)
Building Trust
Trust is what allows people to share honestly. When people feel safe and respected, they are more willing to share their real ideas, concerns, and lived experiences. Building trust in a group takes consistency and personal connection. Having one or two steady points of contact from the healthcare side—such as the same Group Leads—helps the community get to know who they’re working with. It means members see familiar faces and don’t feel like they’re starting over every time. Trust grows much faster with real people they know, rather than with a large, faceless organisation.
Being open and transparent with the group is also key. Doing what you say you will do, following through on actions, and explaining the real reasons behind decisions all help to maintain trust. When people understand the “why,” they feel respected and included.
Group Roles
Group roles are important in coproduction because they help everyone know what they’re doing, share the work fairly, and make sure every voice is heard. Volunteers often bring a lifetime of local knowledge — they know who to talk to, what might work, and what’s already been tried. The community remembers lessons learned. Volunteers are also great at “joining the dots” behind the scenes by linking people together, finding venues, and coming up with practical workarounds. This kind of community wisdom is incredibly valuable, even though it’s often overlooked in more formal systems.
It helps if everyone in the group understands their role, the unique skills they bring, and why they are part of the work. This gives the group a clear sense of direction and helps people see how they can contribute. Clear roles start with understanding what each person is good at. When roles aren’t clear, things can slow down, people can lose confidence, and tasks might end up with the wrong person. Clear roles also keep things fair — no one ends up doing everything or leading the whole group by accident.
It is recommended that time is given for group members to share their skills and connections which may be through a simple sign-up form or a few guiding questions. This not only empowers them but also helps the whole group run more smoothly. That way, tasks can be matched to the right people, to have a balanced perspective by pairing community members and professionals together where it makes sense. Clarifying roles upfront can help the whole process flow better.
Here you will find a template which can be adapted to fit the different roles required for your group: LINK TO ROLE TEMPLATE You can find more information about the role of a community engagement officer as part of a community-led recruitment group here: LINK TO Engagement officer report.