How we work
How we work as a network reflects our model for change:
We forge relationships between ourselves and find ways to do this more widely.
We share our own power and build new alliances.
We listen to each other and identify better ways to listen to others.
We join forces within and across sectors: learning, sharing and working together on common problems.
We think we offer something a bit different to other networks. Our members tell us that they like the fact that so many different and interesting people come together in the network, from right across the country, and that they value the space for deep reflection and the opportunity to build relationships with people they wouldn’t otherwise meet.
We meet in these ways
During the Covid-19 crisis, all of our meetings went online and we’ve found this is a great way of bringing people together from right across the country, enriching our discussions. Our members say they want this to continue but when we are able we’ll also have some face-to-face meetings, where that makes sense.
National Cells
These bring together some 10 to 30 people over a number of months, and each one has a focus on a different theme from Time for a Change. We’re looking at ‘how to’, with the aim of sharing what we learn with the rest of the network.
Roundtables
These can involve up to 100 people, with invited guest speakers, and are an opportunity to address a topic in some depth.
Local Cells
These typically bring together around 10 individuals, grouped around a common geography and/or social theme. At the moment these are in England only.
Fortnightly drop-in
These are for members of our network ‘family’ who would like to say hello, share news, exchange ideas, get something off your chest, and just check in with each other. It’s also a good way for people new to the network to get to know us and explore what we can offer.
Meetings with allies
We’re keen to join up with other organisations and networks who have a similar vision and sometimes hold group events so we can learn from each other. If you’d like to have a chat or suggest one of these meetings, please do.
What happens when we come together
Moments of illumination
We create opportunities for people to present their experience, and to spend time with others in small groups. That’s when the really useful insights emerge, which are often both simple and powerful.
‘Breathing in and breathing out’
At times all of us can get stuck, and lose heart, or simply run out of energy. The Better Way network is a space where we can breathe in and breathe out, exchanging ideas, challenges and encouragement with others, refreshing ourselves for the tasks ahead.
Unexpected encounters
Because the network brings people together from so many parts of society it is the unexpected encounter that is often the most rewarding. Leading, for example, to a new friendship, a source of support, an offer of assistance, perhaps to an entirely new joint venture.
Contributing to a bigger change
Working together, we distil our insights to influence national and local policies, and we share those insights right across our network. This builds momentum for wider change.
In May 2021 the Carnegie UK Trust published a case study about the Better Way.
It tells the story of the network’s origins, development, structure and activities. It also describes its value for members and how it achieves social change.
Some of the things our members are involved in
There's a huge amount of activity that our members are doing that, to a greater or lesser extent, is influenced by the Better Way and which also in return shapes its development. Here are just a few examples of members who have taken the Better Way back into their work:
Reshaping services for children and young people
In Surrey a group of charities, schools, the police, the council, and the NHS have come together, informed by Better Way thinking, in a joint effort to improve lives of children and young people. Watch the Time for Kids film which sets out how they are doing this.
Transforming a national charity
Read here how the national charity Shelter is applying Better Way thinking in an effort to improve the way it works.
Strengthening a local community
A group of Better Way members have been using Better Way thinking to improve their local community, Bentley in Doncaster. Here is a magazine they produced with local people.
And here are a few examples of the many related initiatives which are breaking new ground, led by our members, which feed into our work and vice versa. These include:
The Relationships Project, led by David Robinson, who also acts as a ‘thought leader’ for our Putting Relationships First cell.
The Social Change Project, led by Sue Tibballs at SMK, who also acts as a ‘thought leader’ for our Sharing and Building Power cell.
The Social Care Futures project, co-convened by Neil Crowther who acted as thought leader for our 2020 cell on changing the narrative.
The Good Help, Bad Help project being taken forward by our member, Richard Wilson.
The ChildFair State Inquiry, led by our founding member, Kathy Evans at Children England.
The work on complexity and Human Learning Systems by our member Toby Lowe, in partnership with Collaborate, including A Whole New World: Funding and Commissioning in Complexity.
The Civil Society Futures inquiry, led by our Insights contributor, Julia Unwin, and in which our member Asif Afridi and our co-convenor Steve Wyler were panel members.
Our co-convenor Caroline Slocock’s work on deep value relationships and social infrastructure for the Early Action Task Force and Community Links, most recently in The Power of Deep Value Relationships in Services and Communities and Being in a Good Place: Investing in social infrastructure.
Would you like to help build a Better Way?
If you'd like to join us, or find out more about the network, please click here.