Working in Partnership

In order to grow as an organisation it is essential to network and form partnerships with other voluntary, statutory and sometimes private organisations. No organisation can flourish or work completely isolated. This would not be in the interest of any users or beneficiaries either. Working in partnership opens up many new contacts and opportunities that, if you take part, might benefit your users enormously. It offers an opportunity to provide a more holistic service to your users as you are likely to find ways of referring them to organisations who complement your own services. When working in partnership, be it in a formal or informal way, you create a social capital beneficial to your organisation as a whole and your users. There are many ways of working collaboratively.

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) describes 'What collaborative working involves'.

What forms does collaborative working take?

• Separate organisations maintain their independence, but work jointly on some activities or functions
• Organisations with resources or expertise offer assistance to other organisations, eg. a large national organisation working with a small local group
• A new organisation to do joint work on some activities or functions
• A group structure where a 'parent' organisation governs a group of 'subsidiary' organisations

• Merger to form a new organisation working as one body on all activities

What kind of work can be done collaboratively?

Almost any voluntary or community sector activity can be done in collaboration:

• Charitable activities, for example service delivery, campaigning, policy work
• Sharing premises or support functions, for example payroll, purchasing, fundraising

• Improving strategic efficiency, for example co-ordination, joint management 

Potential benefits and risks of collaboration

Collaborative working is not right for every organisation in every case. Carefully identifying and addressing issues of concern helps establish if it is the right way forward.

Benefits include:

• Improved or wider range of services for beneficiaries
• Financial savings and better use of resources
• Knowledge and information sharing
• Sharing the risk in new projects
• Stronger, united voice
• Better co-ordination of organisations' activities

Risks include:

• Outcomes do not justify the time and resources invested
• Loss of flexibility in working practices
• Loss of autonomy
• Cultural mismatch between organisations
• Mission drift
• Damage to organisation if collaboration is unsuccessful

For more information go to www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/

Many partnerships exist in Waltham Forest. Here are some examples: 

• Local Strategic Partnership (comprising the following partnerships: Children and Young People; Healthier Communities; SafetyNet; Employment and Enterprise; Sustainability and the Environment; Housing)
• Waltham Forest Local Involvement Network (LINk)
• Better Neighbourhoods Initiative (BNI)
• Children & Young People's Network
• Health and Social Care
• Employment and Enterprise
• Environment
• Waltham Forest Congolese Associations Network
• BME Health Forum

Click on the links above to find out more about the networks and how to get involved. In our section Participation and Involvement on the left, you will find more information on how to get involved in these local networks. Click on Waltham Forest VCS Networks.

There is also the North London CVS Partnership made up of Enfield, Barnet, Waltham Forest and Haringey CVS. Its aim is to benefit the voluntary and community sector and the communities it serves, by working strategically at a sub regional level for local benefit.

Within Waltham Forest Council, the team in charge of partnerships with the voluntary sector is the Voluntary Sector Development Team.

Voluntary Sector Development Team
Policy & Partnerships
LB Waltham Forest
Room 9
Walthamstow Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow
E17 7JF

Connie Mante
Voluntary Sector Development Manager
tel 020 8496 4120
email connie.mante@walthamforest.gov.uk

Jerry Hill
Voluntary Sector Project Officer
tel 020 8496 8044
email jerry.hill@walthamforest.gov.uk

VAWF is involved in many of these networks. Feel free to contact us for any questions and further information on how your group can get involved.

Voluntary Action Waltham Forest

Upper Ground Floor,

Churchill Business Centre,

6 Church Hill,

Walthamstow,

London E17 3RY

Tel: 0208 521 0377
Fax: 0208 521 1672

info@voluntaryaction-wf.org.uk

Building a consortia

A recently-published resource from Office of the Third Sector on building a consortium, published as part of the annual update on the Public Service Delivery Plan. Find it here. With supporting information and context here.