1. West Midlands Funders Forum Participation Round Table
Liz Gadd,  NPC
16 July 2019

2. OUTLINE of the session Introductions Presentation
Making it Count
Examples of what other funders are doing
Questions
Round-table discussion
Shared learning
Raising issues and questions
Chatham House rules
Introduce myself and background

3. By Rosie McLeod, Theo Clay October 2018
Making it count
By Rosie McLeod, Theo Clay
October 2018

4. Context
A renewed interest in involvement & user voice across the sector. People are re-examining power dynamics between funders, charities and individuals. Sharing influence is both morally right and the smart way to work.

5. WHAT
“A process by which people are able to become actively and genuinely involved in defining the issues of concern to them;
in making decisions about factors that affect their lives; in formulating and implementing polices; in planning, developing and delivering services, and in taking action to achieve change.”
(WHO Community participation definition 2002, used by Clinks in their guide)

6. WHAT: THE SPECTRUM OF APPROACHES

7. Why? Many motives muddy the waters
It’s good for the people involved (intrinsic benefits).
It can improve decisions and services (extrinsic & instrumental benefits).
People should have a say (moral or political).
“It’s about the process: it benefits those involved”
“It’s about improving decisions, services and products”
“It’s the right way for an organisation to behave”
“It’s about addressing power imbalances, giving people a real say”

8. Without a clear purpose it may be done badly, and marginalised
The question ‘why are you doing it?’ seems self-evident. 
But if we don’t ask what it aims to achieve, we can lose the point. 
The activity becomes the end, not the means.
It is marginalised as 'nice to have' rather than key to impact and mandate.
There are few strategies and very little work on outcomes. 
Why should people invest their time 'having a voice' if it leads to nothing?
Why should work be funded with no clear gains?

9. Make it count: Individual and collective benefits

10. Make it Count: improving decisions, services and outcomes

11. Make it count: stronger partnerships, greater social impact

12. Have a purpose, make an impact
Being honest about scope, and clear on purpose and aims
Monitoring quality 
Reviewing progress and using data
Addressing power dynamics

13. The role of funders

14. The role of funders It all begins with the funder… Values
Clarity on primary stakeholders
Expectations
Purpose
Recognising where charities are / building in reality
Resourcing (time & money)
Funder+
Incentives
Monitoring

15. Fund for shared insight (USA)

16. Big Lottery Community FUnd

17. Trust for London

18. Questions and discussion

19. Discussion starting points…
Chatham House rules
Questions for Liz or the group as a whole?
Current practice? Where are you on the spectrum of approaches?
Hopes? Where would you like to be on the spectrum of approaches?
Barriers?
Drivers? Purpose?
Benefits?
Learning?
What should the role of the funder be?
Impact on grant cycle management?
Impact on our organisations?
Opportunities to collaborate?