Equipment Matters is a passionate group of people with lived experience who have been shaping the community equipment scene. At its heart, the group is all about people who use, or don’t use, equipment shaping how it’s delivered, designed, and valued. It’s a partnership initiative of Medequip and Community Catalysts.
In a recent blog post, Isaac Samuels, a group member, reflects on what makes the group so special and reflects on its achievements to date.
Isaac talks of several things that the Equipment Matters group has achieved over the past year. These include:
The importance of coproduction is stressed by Isaac. He claims that it works and is not just a buzzword, but the future.
At its heart, co-production is about saying: ‘Nothing about us, without us.’ It’s about recognising that lived experience has value—that those of us who use equipment, or live without it, know best what works and what doesn’t.
This year Equipment Matters calls on organisations, providers and individuals to join the campaign for better community equipment.
They dream of a future where equipment isn’t just ‘good enough’ but is life-changing, and are working towards a system where equipment provision is focused on people’s lives, needs and dignity.
The group will be gathering soon to reflect and plan, so do get in touch.