Changes

What we are working on

We have just had our annual changes business planning meeting, which always leaves us with great long lists of exciting things to work on. Gathering these together into a plan really helps us to see the links between different aspects of our work at the same time as illustrating how we are branching out into new – but related – areas. It also gives a good idea about how ‘consultants’ spend their time when not out there delivering.

We do a lot of what we term ‘Research & Development’. This might be about maintaining and updating existing resources, extending existing resources where we see opportunities for them to help in less traditional (for us) arenas, or working on something ‘new’. (We say ‘new’ cautiously as we don’t believe that anything is truly’new’, it is all building on what has gone before, providing firm foundations).

This time around, the things that will be occupying our time include:

• Updating the Voice resource pack – this has been on the agenda for a while and has been delayed by plans to:
• Develop the changes ‘core documents’ – this will be an online resource drawing together the common aspects of the ‘Axis of Influence’ frameworks – things like: an exploration or power, understandings of community empowerment, exploring what influence means
• Update information on the model of change to clarify what it is, how it can help and how it might relate to other models
• Pulling together resources that we have done over the last year or so and making them accessible to wider audiences. This includes a workbook on Working in Inclusive Ways, another on Reflective Practice and yet another on Planning Community Engagement
• Following up recent thoughts on Trustee Engagement and developing these into a resource
• Disseminating the Lisbon Papers (of which we are very proud!)
• Planning and supporting events focusing on feminism and community development
• Coordinating progress on the Dynamo framework in the Axis of Influence series
• Expanding our work on community leadership and link this in with the Inspiring Democracy resource
• Polishing our resource on facilitation skills and make it available online
• Maintaining our commitment to all of our voluntary work local and national