Partnerships and collaboration
Working together can often be the best way to grow your social impact. I am committed to encouraging collaborative approaches between organisations working towards similar outcomes and/or a shared vision. I build consideration about potential collaboration and partnership working into all my strategy development work.
If you are exploring or expanding a collaborative programme, or a formal partnership or merger, I can help you with:
- Exploring how you can make a collective impact
- Ensuring you have a structured and beneficiary-focused approach
- Exploring and articulating a joint theory of change
- Developing strategic, business and operational plans
- Project management e.g. of a merger
When I work with you, I make your purpose my purpose.
Examples of my work on collaborations and partnerships
I have experience of facilitating/project managing a range of collaborative work, from informal partnerships to full mergers:
- Campaign to End Loneliness: strategy development and stakeholder consultation for this coalition of 5 organisations.
- Merger Project Manager (2019) for Coastal West Sussex Mind’s merger with Shoreham and District Mental Health Association to become West Sussex Mind.
- Merger Project Manager (2013) for Worthing & Arun Mind’s merger with Chichester Area Mind to become Coastal West Sussex Mind.
- Refugee Week Coalition: strategy and theory of change development.
- Healthwatch West Sussex: project manager for 2 local Citizens’ Advice developing a successful partnership bid with Help & Care.
- Quality in Self Management Education & Training (QISMET): facilitated the founding partnership to develop a bid winning first strategy and business plan.
My understanding of what it takes for social impact organisations to work effectively in partnerships has been deepened through:
1. My involvement in evaluations of collaborative initiatives at a national level.
For example:
- UK Vision Strategy’s Local Vision Partnerships
- MEAM Coalition: Making Every Adult Matter
- Health Launchpad: a partnership between NESTA and the Young Foundation
2. Extensive board level experience of governance with oversight of partnerships between voluntary sector organisations, between charities and public/private sector bodies, and between various NHS entities.