Dudley’s MASH Lab facilitating creative collaboration bet ween communities and Dudley Council
The fourth 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
Using a template to develop our approach to collaboration Facilitators Sal and Jill from changes provided a template to act as a prompt for discussions about what we would need to do in order for our collaborative activities to be carried out in empowering ways. The left hand column of the table below was provided in the template. The right hand column are additional key ideas developed in the MASH Lab. From the Community Empowerment From MASH Lab participants... we collaborate Dimensions...we collaborate in ways which in ways which mean that we: mean that: • We recognise and increase the skills, • Take a positive view of taking risks in knowledge and confidence of others. order to be innovative • We recognise our own skills. • Are able to disagree and negotiate • We recognise when we have solutions • See mistakes as opportunities for something to offer - and when we don’t learning • Are open to being challenged (to We are Confident change our perspective) • Are transparent • Have confidence in one another’ capabilities, competencies and gaps We are Confident • We recognise and value difference • Are all unique • We promote equality of opportunity • Recognise that difference is positive • We promote good relations between • Recognise, value and use these individuals and groups differences to attain best possible outcomes • Will ensure that everyone’s knowledge, We are Inclusive skills and strengths (assets) are used appropriately • offer and promote other opportunities for inclusion through sharing knowledge of the bigger picture We are Inclusive • We encourage shared learning • Have clarity of purpose/ direction • We bring people together collectively: • Take different approaches to physically and/or virtually communication – feedback and building • We encourage and value group a network • Identify the resources required - skills, working and experience • We communicate effectively funding, buildings etc • Have a structure for making decisions – accountability • manage time and expectations • have a process for checking progress = We are Organised for learning & reflection • Have systems for documentation • Keep things as simple as possible – realistic • Are flexible We are Organised
Have clear, constant communication throughout, underpinned by trust, • honesty and openness - partner organised • • Will ensure buy in - top down/bottom up also partner organised • • Always consider creative ways of working and pooling resources, people, assets • Develop time to reflect, evaluate, plan, We are Cooperative learn, embrace structure and reassurance – we are accountable! • Are clear about aims/vision and turn individual competition into cooperative team – do this by being honest and open about own agendas We are Cooperative • We know that what we do makes a • Have a [collective] strong & clear vision difference, to individuals, to to persuade and involve others & organisations and communities empower them • We have a clear focus on broader • Know ‘who’s who in the zoo’ – we have outcomes and a plan to achieve these access to information, people, organisations • Involve the actual beneficiaries • Respect in all directions We are Influential • Instil a belief that you can influence • Discuss/identify what we can/can’t influence • Are willing to listen • Learn how influence has been achieved – sharing, tools, process, methods, local authority – community; community – local authority • Exude passion • Educate: citizenship, dispel myths • Know what’s important to influencers We are Influential •
We promote the value of long term collective change We seek creative, complementary approaches We know what we bring to a collaboration We build on the assets of others
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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