COLLABORATIVE WORKINGJoining forces in uncertain times

Latin American Women’s Aid (LAWA)

Empowering women and children who are experiencing violence to start a new life and play a fuller role in the community

Latin American Women’s Aid

• Only specialist VAWG organisation for the Latin American community in the UK - 186.500 (UK), 113.500 in London (QM & LAWRS 2011)

• Only refuge provider for this community since 1987

• Holistic advice & advocacy services

• Also supports other Spanish/Portuguese speakers and since 2011 women from other ethnic minority groups

• Bridge between community & service providers

March 2012- 2013: 594 women and children supported• The Refuge

- Refuge Coordinator

- Child Support Worker

- Floating Support Project

• The Advice and Information Centre - DV Advice & Advocacy Project

- Samira Project (VAWG Outreach Project)

- Family Outreach Support Project

• Workshops, in-house legal advice surgeries

• Family Outings and social activities

Service Overview

• 1 in 4 women affected by DV, women from BME backgrounds stay longer in abusive relationships than white British women:

- Lack of knowledge about their rights, - Isolation and discrimination,- Insufficient English language skills,- Economic dependency on their abusive partner.

• BME women often don’t approach generic services, fearing: discrimination, language barrier or failure to address their needs

• Mainstream services often consider BME women’s needs too “challenging” or “complex” to deal with

• BME services are able to reach “hard-to-reach” groups and complement mainstream service gaps

Why are BME specialist services like LAWA needed?

COLLABORATIVE WORKING

“

“El pueblo unido jamás será vencido”

What is Collaborative Working?

• Different ways in which organisations can work together for fixed length of time or permanently Examples: Informal networks Partnerships Alliances Project collaboration Full mergers

• Involves some sort of exchange, for mutual advantage, that ultimately benefits service users.

(NCVO 2013)

Benefits of Collaboration

Improved or wider range of services for beneficiaries Financial savings & better use of resources Knowledge & information sharing Sharing the risk in new projects Stronger, united voice Capacity to replicate success & avoid “reinventing the

wheel”Better co -ordination of organisations’ activities and

mutual support (NCVO Collaborative Working Unit 2007)

NICVA Consultation 2011

Risks of Collaboration

It takes time Outcomes don’t justify time & resources invested Loss of flexibility in working practices and

autonomy In case of cultural mismatch between

organisations => Mission drift Damage to organisation if collaboration is

unsuccessful (NCVO collaborative working unit 2007 & knowhownonprofit.org )

How to make collaboration work

• Research & planning thoroughly• Keeping the focus on beneficiaries• Understanding the financial implications • Understanding and demonstrating social

impact• Treating organisational culture as

fundamental (NPC A. Kail and R. Abercrombie 2013)

Why is collaboration needed?• Public sector cannot address all society's needs and

expectations - Contemporary social, cultural, economic and environmental & funding challenges are increasingly complex

• New government & reduction overall funding have presented significant challenges (The Guardian 15/01/13)

• Staff & service users should be involved in designing and delivering collaborative arrangements

• Localism agenda offers opportunity for greater co-production at a local level

• Opportunity to see service users, charities, providers and commissioners working more closely to achieve shared outcomes

Why does LAWA think that collaboration is useful ?

• Strong civil society with high levels of collaboration to bring about social change = key Latin American characteristic

• Successful track record of working in partnership

• Collaboration as a way of strengthening service delivery in uncertain times

FGS & LAWA The beginning of a collaboration

• We do not reinvent the wheel – we keep it rolling

• Similar goals and overlap of key work areas• Sharing experiences• Transferring success-models• Enhancing communal learning in sector =>

increases sector knowledge and stimulates growth and replication

Useful resourcesWhat is collaborative working: http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/collaborative-working

Guides on collaborative working (collaboration, mergers, due diligence): http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/advice-support/collaborative-working/information-and-tools

Ways of working together collaboratively http://knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/collaboration/working-collaboratively

Collaboration for impact report: http://www.thinknpc.org/publications/collaborating-for-impact/

Why cross sector working is vital in civil society: http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jan/31/cross-sector-collaboration-civil-society

Collaborative working a practical guide: http://www.collaborationni.org/sites/default/files/A%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Collaboration_0.pdf

Stephanie Futter- Orelstephanie@lawadv.org.uk

General Manager0207 275 0321079 460 234 77

advice@lawadv.org.uk www.lawadv.org.uk

(Website currently under reconstruction)

Contact Details

THANK YOU !