Collaboration working group update June 2018

The Collaboration group formed at North East Together: Leaders Network for Social Change in July 2017. The multi-disciplinary group is developing new initiatives to stimulate, support and achieve effective cross-sectoral collaboration. Here Lyn Cole gives an update on ongoing work to take some first steps into making collaboration the norm across the north east. Lyn’s slide deck gives more detailed information too.

Key question

‘If we agreed to find ways to get past any real or perceived barriers, what would it look like if collaboration were the norm across the north east, and how can we take the first steps towards making it happen?’

Proposed outcomes

• Increased knowledge and inspiration through examples of successful collaborations, to showcase and share what is possible.
• Opportunity to discuss opportunities and challenges facing those that wish to collaborate.
• Enhanced networks to enable organisations to consider how they might collaborate with others.
• Access to a platform for taking the first steps towards collaboration on specific emerging projects.

Our recent activity

• Secured some funding from Community Foundation, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland towards the cost of our activities. Thank you!
• Appointed a researcher, Dr Emma Ormerod of Newcastle and Durham Universities, to lead on collating our case studies. She may be in touch with those colleagues that have given us examples of collaboration in action.
• Had very productive conversations on our proposed action learning sets with Helen Frankenberg and Sue Osborne, School for Social Enterprise and Alan Nobbs, NHS Academy Action Learning Set facilitator programme. We will be in touch shortly with details of free or low-cost action learning set opportunities.
• Agreed that our collaboration fair will take place at the Discovery Museum on 14 November. The three key components are — Inspiration, Exploration and Action. Please hold the date and standby for communications about the very exciting content of the event!
• Appointed Hodwell Associates to lead on marketing our activities.

Next steps

• Launch our first action learning set.
• Finalise the content of our collaboration event and start our marketing activity.
• Continue to seek funding for our current shortfall.
• Continue our discussion with various interested parties.

Our ask of North East Together members

• Remember that work came out of one of our events and that it is about improving collaboration across our region. We would love you to promote, attend and engage with our planned activities. If you have good ideas, constructive challenge or would like to be more closely involved in any other way, please get in touch!
• There are other opportunities to support this work by taking on a collaboration ambassador role, donating funds or probono support.
• Please engage with us to inspire others or to be inspired!

Contact Lyn Cole by email lyn@lyncole.org.uk or phone 07407 769304