Collaborative meeting

01/11/2022

Chairs’ summary

The Collaborative meeting of 1st November 2022 saw a diverse range of organisations come together to positively engage in, and get a better sense of, what the Changing Futures programme is currently delivering and what it aims to achieve throughout its lifespan and beyond.

The initial networking, with hot drinks and cakes was a nice touch, and set the scene for good conversations to happen. The main part of the meeting started with both new co-chairs introducing themselves and stating what their ambitions for the Collaborative are.

Anna Smith, Programme Director for Changing Futures, then provided the audience with progress update on the programme. She explained that the service coordinators currently work with 47 clients across the three Changing Futures cohorts. She also explained how the ‘My Team Around Me' pilot is progressing.

Alex Collins, Lived Experience Lead, Sarah-Jane Freni, Communications Manager, presented Changing Futures Coproduction principles and invited the group to feedback on them. This highlighted that organisations are struggling with resources and that they need more support around Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Temba Mahari, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, introduced his work and facilitated a discussion on intersectionality. Organisations in the room seemed keen to advance the EDI agenda and voiced a need for increased awareness-raising around multiple disadvantage intersectionality within services.

Finally, Kath Williams from Bristol City Council delivered a segment on sustainability plans for the programme. Kath alluded to a good start having been made and welcomed involvement from partnership organisations to further develop plans. When opening-up to the group for feedback, there were some key points made, which included:

- A suggestion to focus on highlighting aspects of services that don't work well but continue to exist, in order to replace these with better options.

- Evidencing and prioritising the value of service user voice and service users being trained to become staff members.

- Having a plan to navigate/shape the increasingly concerning financial and political landscape.