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Collaboration: the whys and wherefores, the pros and the cons

Collaboration: the whys and wherefores, the pros and the cons. Jon Goodwin Pentagon Partnership. Contents. Context - Collaboration in the current climate Collaboration: what do we mean and how can it help? Drawbacks What helps? Key issues to address Support.

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Collaboration: the whys and wherefores, the pros and the cons

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  1. Collaboration: the whys and wherefores, the pros and the cons Jon Goodwin Pentagon Partnership

  2. Contents • Context - Collaboration in the current climate • Collaboration: what do we mean and how can it help? • Drawbacks • What helps? Key issues to address • Support

  3. Context - Collaboration in the current climate • Reduced overall funding – need to make savings • Contract culture – reduced grant funding • Fewer, larger contracts (geographically and thematically) • Big Society – third sector involvement in public services (design and delivery)

  4. Collaboration: what do we mean? Making things Better Together by: • Selling together • Buying together • Influencing together • Working together

  5. Selling together Responding to funding and business opportunities • Grants • “Fewer, larger” contracts • Often the initial driver of collaboration • Collaboration between small organisations or between large and small?

  6. Buying together • Buying power and sharing of resources • Purchasing together • Sharing services • Sharing staff • Co-location • Economies of scale and efficiency savings • Attractive to funders

  7. Influencing together • Influencing policy, strategy and funding • Evidence and intelligence • Joined up thinking and a coherent voice – powerful • Influencing service priorities and service design • Influencing service and funding structures

  8. Working together • Networking – sharing good practice and intelligence • Referrals – joined up services • Better co-ordination & quality of services • Better reach

  9. Drawbacks • Equality between partners • Loss of identity? • Culture clashes – differing values, cultures • Risk – financial, reputational? • It takes time and money up front before you feel the benefits

  10. What helps? • Clearly defined aim - vision and focus • Leadership – an organisation(s) prepared to drive things forward • Support – if possible from outside the partnership • Equality between partners • Positive experiences in existing networks and relationships • Buy-in from the right people • Getting the right results – soon if possible!

  11. So... Key Issues to address • Identifying the aim(s) • Roles and responsibilities – who is going to drive this forward? • Developing trust and agreeing values • Clarity around structures and processes, responsibilities and decision-making, ground rules and protocols • Write all of this down! • Model - informal network, lead agency or new hub? • Get external support if possible

  12. Support and information Locality: Connect For http://locality.org.uk/projects/connectfor/ NCVO Collaborative working project www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/collaborative-working Better Together Francesca@childrenengland.org.uk Your local CVS?

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