Collective impact Emma Cooper, M&E Unit West Midland Funders Network, November 2017

What is collective impact ‘Collective impact builds from a belief that urgent challenges faced by our society mean that we can no longer depend on the ‘isolated’ efforts of individual organisations or interventions’ Current challenges Principles of collective impact Collective impact in the youth sector Considerations for funders

‘isolated impact’ Organisation / commissioner seeks info to demonstrate that service meets need Organisation / commissioner seeks extra resource to continue resource Delivery organisation / commissioner identifies area of need Service is created or commissioned to meet stated need

challenges Expensive Resource-intensive Disconnected from practice Emphasis on individual organisations Individual or ‘bespoke’ solutions Lack of consensus No common language No community-level change Image courtesy of Collaboration for Impact

Collective impact as a response Engage a large number of organisations Ongoing facilitated process Comparative performance metrics Learning community Goal alignment Increased effectiveness Image courtesy of Collaboration for Impact

When to take a collective impact approach Emergent understanding Expert understanding Immediate action Best practice Cynefin Framework

PRINCPLES OF COLLECTIVE IMPACT Common agenda Shared vision for change Data-driven analysis of the present situation Shared mission statement that sets out goal for change Shared measurement Common indicators for measuring and monitoring progress One or more common tools Agreed approach to data gathering, reporting and analysis Agreed to performance management and accountability Infrastructure for recording monitoring, analysis and reporting on data Mutually reinforcing activities Detailed mapping of existing provision Detailed understanding of a ‘typical’ user journey Agreement on complementary strategies An organisational structure that allows for activities to be refined Continuous communication Regular meetings with the ‘right’ actors Fully operational feedback Balance of decision making structures Meaningful data that allows for real time decision making Backbone support Neutral, funded staff team brought together for the collective impact initative Team members skilled in facilitation, mediation and conditions for shared learning

Collective impact in practice

Collective impact: West London zone Place-based collective impact project that supports children and young people living in three square miles of inner west London Based on the Harlem Children's Zone, supporting 12,000 0-25 year-olds ‘from cradle to college’ Model Identifying In depth survey conducted in an ‘anchor’ to identify those at risk. Focus on ‘strengths’ as well as ‘needs’ Supporting Bespoke package of support delivered by social sector partners 3. Monitoring Comprehensive database bringing together data provided by anchors, charities and Link Works. Children monitored over time. West London Zone network map

Considerations for funders When would a collaborative impact approach work? Are partners willing to commit to a collaborative impact approach? What constitutes ‘neutrality’ for a backbone organisation? How can backbone organisations be resourced? How can a collective impact approach demonstrate funding compliance? How can trust be developed within a sector to allow open communication?

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