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

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)

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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!

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

Support and information Locality: Connect For NCVO Collaborative working project Better Together Your local CVS?