Hammersmith and Fulham Council has been recognised as a best practice model for co-production and Independent Living by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL). The recognition came in April 2024 as part of the network's proposal for a Framework of Excellence in Social Services in Europe.

The council's commitment to co-production with residents, particularly Disabled residents, was discussed at the Policy and Oversight Board meeting on Monday 24 November 2025. A report presented to the board outlined the progress made in embedding co-production across various council services.

The council's co-production efforts stem from the Disabled People's Commission (DPC) report, Nothing about Disabled people Without Disabled people, published in June 2021. The DPC defined co-production as Local Disabled residents are working together with decision makers to actively identify, design, and evaluate policy decisions and service delivery that affect our lives and remove the barriers we face.

The council has since updated the definition of co-production to reflect its commitment to working with a wider range of residents. The updated definition is: Co-production means people and decision-makers working together to plan, design and review policies and services that affect our residents' lives .

The council's commitment to co-production is led by Tara Flood, Head of Co-production, and supported by a Co-production officer. Councillor Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Inclusive Community Engagement, serves as the Cabinet lead for co-production.

The Hammersmith and Fulham Co-production Implementation Group (HFCIG), recently renamed Co-production Matters H&F , plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of co-production principles. The group is co-chaired by Councillor Sanderson and Donna Fenner, a Disabled resident.

In the last couple of years, the council has successfully secured almost £2m of external funding for initiatives where co-production is part of the delivery approach.

Key successes of the council's co-production efforts include:

Measurable outcomes of these initiatives include:

  • National Recognition: H&F Local Offer voted country's best local offer in 2024 NAFIS award (attributed to Family Voices co-production)
  • Quality Assurance: Young Inspectors programme producing reports and recommendations to providers; Total Respect training programme led by care-experienced young people
  • Service Design & Delivery: Multiple Family Hubs opened across borough; Care Leavers Hub opened October 2023; New Transitions Team established and fully recruited (2023); Dedicated Care Leavers Housing Officer created; 4 new Disabled Shopper Bays implemented
  • Budget & Financial Impact: Setting Up Home Allowance increased to £3,000; 2,790 residents used Warm Welcome sessions; 1,854 residents installed energy-saving measures through Winter Ready Homes; Youth Voice priorities included in third sector investment grant criteria; £2.5m allocated to WKGG estate improvements co-designed with residents
  • Infrastructure & Design: King Street access audit completed, trial step and railings at Wood Lane crossing; StreetSmart highways guidance in development with accessibility embedded; Cycle bays at Stamford Brook Station to clear pavement obstacles; Civic Campus described as pioneering co-production approach by architects
  • Policy & System Change: Joint Housing Protocol for care leavers developed; Flooring and white goods now provided for young people in council tenancies; Care experience flag on housing system; SEND Outcomes Framework with scorecard measuring key metrics; Digital Inclusion Strategy developed; Multiple critical web pages improved (Council Tax, Permits, Waste, Accessible Transport); Direct Payments usage successfully increased

In addition to the European recognition, the council's position on not charging for homecare was highlighted as a best practice model in the Disability Law Service research report on the impact of charging on Disabled people (June 2024).