In the realm of charitable organisations, the value of collaboration cannot be overstated. Collaborative working has emerged as a powerful tool for charities to maximise their impact and create sustainable change. By pooling resources, expertise, and networks, charities can address complex challenges more effectively, amplify their reach, and foster innovation. In this article, we delve into the advantages of collaborative working in charities, explore how Community360 has used collaboration and how it has empowered them to make a significant difference to the way they work.
Community360 chairs One Colchester a local strategic partnership for the City of Colchester. The partnership is a multi-agency group with representation at a level to determine the work plan with the ambition to make high level decisions and be able to break down operational barriers.
A great collaboration, the purpose of the group is to provide a strategic framework locally, working in partnership on significant targeted issues affecting local communities within the City of Colchester with the ultimate outcome of encouraging communities to take charge of their own destiny with emphasis on community self-help, health and wellbeing; stable homes; safety; prosperity and other outcomes deemed appropriate within the Partnership group.
- Enhanced Resource Utilisation
One of the key advantages of collaborative working is the ability to optimise resource utilisation. Charities often face limited budgets and resources, making it challenging to tackle complex problems on their own. By collaborating with other like-minded organisations, charities can combine their resources, whether financial, human, or technological, to achieve greater efficiency and scale. Sharing costs and assets enables them to maximise their impact, reach larger audiences, and deliver more effective programs and services.
The One Colchester Funding Panel manages more than £1.5 million of pooled funding from public sector, National Lottery, and local funders on behalf of the local strategic partnership, One Colchester. This approach has enabled funds to be devolved to place-based projects at varying scales of activity, many of whom would not access public sector funding in other ways, to target inequality and resilience.
The One Colchester Hub is a fantastic example of delivering effective programmes and services. Through collaborative working it offers support services, activities and signposting to the local community. The hub hosts social groups throughout the week from friendship groups, men’s and women’s groups to textile and IT Groups. Funding has enabled a space to be created to even offer practical support such as winter packs and slippers for those at risk of falls and offer drop-in sessions with partner groups such as local councils, police and diverse community groups.
- Expanded Network and Reach
Collaborative working opens doors to new networks and expands reach. Partnering with other organisations brings together diverse perspectives, expertise, and networks. This collaboration facilitates the sharing of knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned, enabling charities to tap into a broader range of experiences and approaches. By leveraging the combined reach and influence of multiple organisations, charities can amplify their messages, mobilise support, and engage with a wider audience, ultimately increasing their ability to effect change.
In response to two ‘listening to action’ events bringing together groups led by diverse communities in Colchester, a shared community plan was developed which has co-ordinated action that has increased funding for community led activity by more than £200,000 over two years, increased representation within health and community safety partnerships, whilst strengthening ties between leaders.
2. Increased Effectiveness and Impact
When organisations work together, they can leverage complementary skills, expertise, and resources to address complex social issues. Collaborative efforts enable charities to develop innovative solutions and implement more integrated programs. By pooling their strengths and sharing knowledge, charities can achieve sustainable outcomes that have a lasting positive impact on communities.
Community Asset Mapping, a partnership programme steered by Community360, CVS Tendring and Healthwatch Essex, has produced a series of six strengths-based reports that identify best practice, previously unavailable forms of evidence to demonstrate the impact of VCSE activity and captures citizen’s voices, deepening our understanding of the local area and opportunities for local people.
3. Knowledge Sharing and Learning
Collaborative working fosters a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning. When organisations come together, they bring with them a wealth of expertise and experience. Charities can share their knowledge, learn from one another, and adopt best practices. Collaborative initiatives also encourage experimentation, as organisations can learn from both successes and failures, leading to improvements in their work.
Through our Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) we are pleased to be working with the University of Essex to host a KTP Associate for 30 months to explore ways in which we can demonstrate the impact of VCSE activity and increase the resources available to support it.
4. Strengthened Advocacy and Policy Influence
When organisations unite around a shared cause, they can present a unified front to address social issues, Collaborative working enables charities to pool their advocacy resources, share research and evidence, and present a more comprehensive and persuasive case for change.
With health and social care partners in North East Essex, we co-facilitated the Communities Can…Build Back Fairer conference, to explore how we could collaborate to address health inequalities. With a keynote address from Sir Michael Marmot, community voices shared their experiences with system partners to encourage positive change for local people.
Conclusion
Collaborative working has become a fundamental approach for many charities seeking to maximise their impact and address complex social challenges. By leveraging the advantages of collaboration, charities can enhance resource utilisation, expand their networks, increase effectiveness and impact, foster knowledge sharing, and strengthen advocacy efforts. By joining forces, charities have the potential to create lasting change and build a better future for the communities they serve. Embracing collaborative working is not just beneficial; it is essential for charities striving to make a significant difference in their communities and something that Community360 has greatly benefited from.
