My first month at Changing Futures

Katherine recently joined the Changing Futures team as our Learning Academy Development Officer. Over the next year, she will be developing the Academy - an exciting programme that will provide people facing multiple disadvantage a variety of ways to engage in learning and training opportunities. In this post, Katherine shares what she’s learnt in her first month on the job.

My first month in role has flown by in a flurry of get-to-know-you coffees, training sessions and developing my understanding of the range of service providers in Bristol. I have learnt a lot in this time, but there are three key lessons that have framed my first few weeks at Changing Futures:

1. Coproduction is key

Arguably, the most significant lesson I have learnt since I joined is the importance of coproduction and how to embed this into the work I do. To create a dynamic and accessible programme that will positively benefit learners, it is important to include our learners in the decision-making process and learn from their lived experiences.

One of the main aims of the Academy is to deliver a coproduced programme where every course and opportunity offered will be client-led and client-focused, so including the voices of those with lived experience is vital. Over the next year, I will be consulting with Independent Futures and other lived experience groups in the development and design of programme content and on the delivery of the Academy itself.  

2: Sharing really is caring

Having recently relocated to Bristol, I knew that establishing a programme in a new city was going to be a challenge. One of my first priorities (aside from navigating my commute by bike) was to explore what services Bristol offered and decipher how people facing multiple disadvantage are being supported on the ground.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet with several local service providers around the city and learn about their journeys in bringing positive change to their clients. Although we work in our separate organisations, there is a real sense of community and collectiveness when it comes to supporting people facing multiple disadvantage in Bristol. I have met with so many wonderful service providers who are passionate about creating fair opportunities and supporting those they work with.

Sharing best practice with these organisations has been enlightening and I hope that through the Academy, we can continue to support each other and bring equal opportunities to those in our community.

3: Change is possible   

There are still a number of barriers that prevent those who are facing multiple disadvantage from accessing equal opportunities, especially when it comes to education and training. Although there are brilliant initiatives taking place across the UK to combat this, it can sometimes feel like an overwhelming feat to achieve educational equity and fair access.

I have learnt that by opening discussions with lived experience groups and breaking down the process into smaller steps, it is possible to foster change and engage everyone through learning. With the Academy, it is my hope that learners will be able to take part in positive activities where they move at their own pace and hopefully have fun while doing so!

I am excited to see where the Academy takes us in the next year and I hope that by continuing to build connections and coproducing with those who have lived experience, Changing Futures will deliver a programme that brings joy and positive change to those who access it.