Dudley’s MASH Lab facilitating creative collaboration bet ween communities and Dudley Council
The second in a series of reports from a MASH Lab event held on 18 July 2012 at INSIGHT House
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Background to What is the MASH Lab collaboration?
3. What makes collaboration empowering?
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A draft template for collaboration
Community wellbeing outcomes
Feedback, next steps and support
What is collaboration? initial thoughts from groups
This question was discussed by groups, who created some fantastic diagrams to reflect their discussions
During the feedback from discussion at the event the following points about collaboration were highlighted - there was lots of common ground between the groups. Having a shared goal Agreed clear goals – what are we collaborating about? Forward momentum – shared goal. It is about together, making something better or more positive as the end produce. There has to be some benefit: relationships, energy common purpose. Common purpose, agreement and sharing – stated or not. Together, as equals Designing together – not somebody coming back with a solution. To work together equally. We are all sitting around together, working equally. Working together on an equal footing with a shared goal – listening and reviewing as we go. Research, review, evaluation.
Knowing what we each bring A clear understanding about the ability, capacity and limitations of each collaborator/organisation – without this we are into assumptions. Sharing resources and a mutual agreement about what we can – and what we are prepared to share. Working together to reach a positive end – mixing different skills and interests. Collaboration between singer and rap artist – put in just as much – and the audience gets more from it. Different skill mix – balance of power – addressing this and not making assumptions about what people can bring to the table. The right people at the right time and giving that time - all parties knowing what they want. Trust Trust and honesty. Trust, honesty, communication. Hidden agendas – there can’t be any but sometimes have them without realising – need negotiation. How collaboration arises Collaboration can occur formally, informally, by accident – share a common agreement that may not be stated: community, individual, organisations. There is a new narrative being told by grassroots community projects popping up around the world. These are the people that are teaching us about how to create projects and ideas that connect communities in new and productive ways. The two strongest characteristics demonstrated in the projects are: Creativity: they connect many new and existing resources and ideas to make entirely new things, Collaboration: they boost the potential and success of the work by collective and collaborative ways of operating. Edited extract of a blog post by Tessy Britton
Experiences of collaboration Discussions in pairs
An opportunity to start building new relationships, participants worked in pairs to share experiences of collaboration. They discussed what the topic or issue was, what made it collaboration, what was good, and what was not so good.
Participants were invited to feedback general observations from their discussions, anything interesting which stood out. What made it collaboration Number of people involved Not driven by one agency Shared responsibility Everyone involved Partners and the community all around the table all on the same page - same place, same time, all knowing what we’re doing Clear outcomes, clear goal Rationale - clear evidence - helps to get buy-in What was good? Learning from each other It made a new community A perfect match: a left shoe finding a right shoe that fits! Diverse backgrounds Small beginnings leading to personal outcomes and achievements Existing relationships Set off on the same page It was motivating - had influence and access to ‘power’ - linking to people Growth Evidence
Rationale Pooling expertise Bringing together two or more audiences Generosity of spirit Assumptions challenged Understanding each others’ perspectives Buy in at senior level New ways of working opportunities to explore Leads to sustainability, bringing new energy dynamic, changing relationships Opportuinities to make new connections and build new relationships Shared values and mutual trust Like each other Having and sharing resources Changes how people work in futures Recognising value of collaboration What was not so good? Existing process and structures block new ideas/ways of doing things Selfish intentions Unexpected external factors
“We want more good stuff, and to know how to deal with the not so good stuff” Sal Hampson, event facilitator
What we shared more widely
Discussions about collaboration on twitter Participants, facilitators and others in their twitter networks were active online throughout the MASH Lab event. The discussion on collaboration is shared below, as Storified by Lorna Prescott. is a free to use site which helps users to tell stories by curating content from social media sources. See www.storify.com
MASH Lab participants We are grateful to the following for their participation in the MASH Lab Andy Barry Brendan Bridget Chris Dawn Dennis Dick Donna Faye Geoff Gillian Jason John Kate Kate Katriona Lorna Louise Marc Martin Matthew Melissa Menna Mike Ruth Simon Sue Tony Wendy
Wright Hutchinson Clifford Brickley Morrey Bonnick Hodson Jeavons-Fellows Roberts Conroy Thomas Lloyd Whyley Cheadle Green Warren Lafferty Prescott Clarke Carter Baines Smith Guest Flavell Wood Heeks Manson Haywood Laycock Fryatt
Dudley MBC Dudley MBC Dudley MBC Dudley Community Partnership Dudley Community Partnership Dudley MBC Dudley Community Partnership Stourbridge Rugby Dudley MBC Dudley Community Partnership Dudley MBC Dudley Borough Interfaith Network Dudley Council Dudley Table Tennis League /Bromley TT Club Dudley CVS Public Health, NHS Dudley DMBC Community Safety Team Dudley CVS Dudley MBC INSIGHT for Carers Dudley MBC Dudley MBC Dudley CVS Dudley MBC Dudley MBC Autism Outreach Service Dudley Council Dudley MBC - Community Safety Team Stourbridge Hub & Social Transformation Black Country Foodbank
The event facilitators were: Sal Hampson and Jill Bedford from changes and Nick Bird