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Dear <<First Name>>,
Many of us working in the voluntary and community sector (VCS) do so because we believe in the difference we’re making. We believe that community approaches can tackle inequalities. We believe that peer support can help people become more confident and less lonely. And we believe that the kinds of approaches which charities and community organisations deliver so well can change people’s lives.
But how do we communicate this change? How do we persuade commissioners and funders of their value? And how do we engage doctors, nurses and social workers in these approaches, so that they signpost those most in need to us?
This edition of WOW Now focuses on some of the ways in which VCS organisations can demonstrate the difference they are making – to the people with whom they work directly, and within the context of the wider health and care system.
It offers blogs, case studies and resources which I hope will be helpful guides for your organisation in telling its own story of the difference it is making. You can access the slides and notes from our recent Demonstrating Impact POW WOW (shared learning workshop) below, and there are profiles of some of the people who are so generously contributing their time, experience and enthusiasm to help Wellbeing Our Way create the change we want to see.
As ever, if you work within a charity or community organisation and would like to get involved with Wellbeing Our Way, please do get in touch.
Best wishes,
Natalie Koussa
Programme Lead – Wellbeing Our Way
P.S. Wellbeing Our Way is one year old! Click to see our blog, Wellbeing Our Way – Just the beginning... Next week, we will be sharing case studies showing the difference Wellbeing Our Way is making to some of the organisations involved in the programme - please look out for these on the National Voices' blogspot.
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POW WOWs
Wellbeing Our Way’s POW WOWs (shared learning workshops) bring together people working in charities and those with lived experience to develop approaches which enable people to live well. They are a great opportunity for shared learning between staff working directly with people with long term health needs, as well as those who are developing these approaches.
“Great speakers and good mix of theory and real examples…Made me realise the importance of theory of change and impact measurement.”
- Workshop participant
On 23 June, Wellbeing Our Way held a POW WOW which explored how charities and community organisations can use a theory of change to demonstrate the difference they are making. Please click here to see the agenda for the day.
Many thanks to David Jones (Diabetes UK), Dimitrios Tourountsis and Francis Augusto (London Youth), and Lee Robinson (Bright Ideas Consulting Ltd) for facilitating a hugely enjoyable and interactive day.
In their morning session - Theory of Change: the missing link between good and great? - David and Lee explored how theory of change can be used as a practical framework for organisational planning, using Diabetes UK’s Patient Leadership programme as a thought-provoking case study. You can see their slides here.
The ‘What are we already doing? What are the challenges?’ session gave an opportunity to share the existing ways in which organisations demonstrate their impact, alongside aspirations and challenges in this area. Please click here to see the table notes.
Finally, London Youth’s ‘Making a Positive Difference’ was led by Dimitrios and Francis in their energetic and inimitable style. Please click here to see their slides and here to see London Youth’s Learning Report 2013-14.
This storify summarises some of the highlights from the workshop.
If you would like to find out more, share examples of your practice in this area, or get involved in the Peer Support community of practice, please get in touch with Natalie.
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Demonstrating Impact POW WOW on Tuesday 23 June.
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Upcoming POW WOWs:
It's been a positive start for Wellbeing Our Way's series of POW WOWs, with workshops on care and support planning and peer support. There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved throughout the rest of the year. These include:
- 26 August - Self-management support, with particular attention to meeting the needs of young people and meeting the needs of people whose capacity is changing (such as those with neurological conditions)
- 14 October - Developing person-centred information and helplines
- 11 November – Enabling people to influence
Read more and register here. We will confirm places as soon as we are able.
If you are a person with lived experience who would like to attend one of the POW WOWs, please see our Reward and Recognition policy for details of travel expenses and fees available.
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WOW How: London Youth- From a ‘hunch’ to credible evaluation
WOW How is a regular feature which highlights some of the great work already existing within the community and voluntary sector. This week's WOW How is from Dimitrious, Head of Learning at London Youth.
London Youth’s vision is that all young Londoners grow up healthy, are able to navigate a fulfilling career and make a positive contribution in their communities. Our mission is to support and challenge young people to become the best they can be.
We believe that good youth work works and we deliver it with, and through our network of 400 community youth clubs and at our two residential centres. We create a broad and inclusive range of opportunities for young people and develop, train, connect and quality assure our membership network to deliver good youth work.
London Youth has a long history - it was established around 1887. The last 128 years have resulted in the accumulation of a significant body of practices relevant to young people. For example, we know that a residential can change the lives of inner city young people.
But what we knew - our know how - was supported by observation, anecdotal evidence, personal opinion and tradition. In 2001 we let the world know that we had a ‘hunch’ about the benefits of youth work delivered in a place where young people choose to go. We published a document that argued for the value of good youth work and outlined the limits of our knowledge. But we lacked a robust set of data to back up this hunch.
Despite our previous failed attempts at measurement - partly due to motivation and mainly due to lack of adequate resource - we embraced evidence-informed practice and acknowledged our role in influencing the new systems of public services. We directed our energy towards learning how to sustain, to endure without giving away.
In the last three years, London Youth has piloted the Catalyst youth outcomes framework, adopted robust methods of programme design (theories of change) and evaluation (process and impact), involved young people, practitioners and funders, produced its first Learning report, and become an Early Adopter of the Centre for Youth Impact’s offer. London Youth is learning how to be sustainable.
Our top tips:
Ensure that your work to develop a theory of change reflects your organisation’s mission and strategic objectives. Be prepared to support and challenge your staff during their own learning journey.
Be accountable to your beneficiaries, stakeholders and funders – involve them in your impact measurement practice, make it ambitious but take small and confident steps when implementing it.
What is different as a result?
- Delivery staff feel more empowered, are better engaged in programme design and evaluation and consciously use their theory of change in working with young people; and
- Organisational planning and decision-making is informed by credible evidence.
Dimitrios Tourountsis – Head of Learning, London Youth
If you would like to share an example of promising practice for inclusion in future editions, please get in touch with Natalie. We would be particularly interested in examples around ways in which organisations are supporting people to manage their long term health needs.
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