I am not going to lie; some people do not even want to talk: Co-design with vulnerable groups affected by child criminal exploitation

Abstract

Co-production values lived experience as it promotes individuals as assets and offers insight where little is known about a problem. This paper critically considers the pragmatic approach to co-design adopted in Wales with young people and parents affected by child criminal exploitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It suggests that combining co-design with data collection facilitated the recruitment, sensitisation and facilitation of vulnerable groups. By placing informed consent at the forefront of co-design, young people and parents decided how they wanted their voices heard. Further, combining data gathering with co-design contextualised solution development within their lived experiences. However, embedding these solutions into policy and practice remains subject to existing power imbalances.