Better Way network survey November 2022: summary of responses
The survey was carried out in November 2022. 36 responses were received. Of these 29 had attended at least one Better Way event (81%), and 7 had not attended an event (19%).
Most respondents were from the voluntary/community/social enterprise sector (58%). However, 11% were from the public sector. And a further 31% were from the private sector, academic sector or think tanks, or working independently.
There was a broad geographical distribution, with 37% from London and the South of England, 14% from the Midland and East of England, 42% from Yorkshire and the North of England. 9% were from Scotland and Wales.
1. What do network members think about our Better Way Principles and the Behaviour Model?
100% of people like the Better Way principles – 79% said they like them very much and 21% said they quite like them.
97% of people like the Better Way behaviour model – 70% said they like the model very much and 27% said they quite like it. 3% don’t like the model.
Some positive comments:
I am approaching my work through the lens of Relationships, Joining Forces, Radical Listening and Sharing Power - almost as a check list.
They set core principles for collaboration and action.
They are simple to understand but hard for many to apply, which makes them powerful.
They come to life via stories, for instance Putting Relationships First can appear like a platitude until Mark Smith at Gateshead tells his council tax story.
They are clear and simple.
It is very easy to understand the ‘beach ball’.
It is change from the inside which makes so much sense.
They are values driven.
They are clear and respond to the issues we face in creating a fairer, more sustainable and welcoming society for all.
They resonate with our work and experience.
I like your principles and wonder whether they can inform the work we do with our teams.I have been sharing the principles and behaviours with others, especially in the ICS.
Some concerns or suggestions for improvement:
I like them a lot but it’s how to implement them and influence other too as well.
I like them but not sure how they will be adopted to bring about change.
I have some reservations about the wording of the principle "Changing ourselves is better than demanding change from others". I'm unsure which 'selves' are being targeted by the principle, but I think the wording potentially undermines rights-based approaches that are key to upholding some of the other principles and behaviours. For example, listening to those least heard - it's my view that many people who are unheard need to be empowered to demand change from those who are currently keeping them in the 'least heard' category. If this principle is supposed to be inclusive of these people, the exhortation to change themselves will (I think) align to other unhelpful political messaging that seeks to assign individual responsibility for (e.g.) poor mental health or other difficult life circumstances rather than acknowledging wider social power structures. It should be clear that some of us have more resources than others to 'change ourselves', and if we want to 'share and build power' and 'encourage mass participation', this needs to be transparently acknowledged. Perhaps the wording could be something like "Our behaviour can help others to change"?
I think the national/local principle is problematic.
I’ve never been sure of the term "forces" – it suggests a war.
I like the behaviours in theory, but I don’t put them into practice. They don’t really cover introverts who avoid social interaction.
The words are great, but we need a theory and method of change to put them into practice.
2. What do network members think about our events?
100% of people who have been to Better Way events reported their experience was positive. 62% said very positive and 38% said quite positive.
Some positive comments:
Presentations and conversations have been mature, informative and current.
They are always very well run and very thoughtfully organised. I like the mix of asking people to contribute in line with their expertise and ensuring everyone can participate.
Great ethos and principles, good level of participation from different profiles of stakeholder.
A chance to chat to people outside of your organisation about common challenges
It was very open and positive.
I've only been to one event. It was friendly and engaging with a broad range of contributors.
Found them very dynamic and interesting.
I have also changed the way I run some of our member events, learning from how Better Way events have been run.
Some concerns or suggestions for improvement:
Evening events? I am struggling to make the time to commit to and attend the events around a busy work programme.
For a person who is employed it can be difficult to attend because they are usually during "office hours".
I think there's scope for A Better Way to form small cells whose members join forces once a month to draw on each other's experience when resolving a present-day challenge they're stuck with.
I sometimes feel that the discussions struggle to go from the obvious to the more challenging and particularly fail to translate into practice / measurable benefits, remaining at the theoretical/ideological level.
Format is safe and effective but feels a bit familiar at times. Perhaps more workshop style - encourage the thought leads to shape the session themselves and give them that responsibility - more time in break outs etc.
Maybe some more facilitation/guidance in breakout rooms so conversations aren't dominated.
Think about a new way for signing up so it's not entirely down to people to remember. More reminders perhaps or outlook invites?
It would be good to have some regional (or cross regional) in person events.
I haven't attended any events recently because of pressure of work. If there were any opportunity for end-of-day social gatherings, that would be great.
From March 2020 all Better Way events have been online. When asked whether they would be more likely to attend in-person or online events in future, 6% didn’t know, but of those who expressed a preference 74% said online events, while 6% would prefer in-person events in London, and 21% in-person events in their region/country.
Continue the online information and more online events, so much cheaper for smaller organisations.
3. Has participation in the Better Way network produced useful insights for your own work?
100% have gained useful insights (23% a great deal, 30% quite a lot, 47% a little)
Some examples:
The importance of partnership working.
Connecting with like-minded people in my area.
Good examples (and discussion) on collaboration.
Informed some of my thinking and practice on collaboration and partnership working.
How Mark Smith set up an experiment that succeeded in Gateshead.
Mark’s work in Gateshead is a simple, graphic and brilliant example of relationship-centred practice that I first encountered through Better Way.
Understanding what is going on and what is under development in other areas/sectors.
Specific examples of approaches or work from others which I've used to help my thinking.
Ideas are always really interesting which is why I stay in touch.
I’ve discovered positive listening through Better Way.
It has affirmed and consolidated my thinking.
'Start somewhere, and go everywhere' - pilot and experiment.
Useful feedback on my own work and approaches.
4. Has participation in the Better Way network produced useful connections to others?
77% have made useful connections (16% a great deal, 16% quite a lot, 45% a little).
Some examples:
So many good connections across the country - very reassuring and supporting, I've learned a lot.
Really useful follow-ups with people in related fields, ie. YMCA.
Paul White, Polly Neate, Steve and Caroline.
So many!
Too many to list! I have enjoyed speaking to people outside my sector.
I've had several conversations with people I've met at Better Way events.
5. Has participation in the Better Way network encouraged you to make changes to your own practice or develop any new initiatives
81% have made changes to their own practice or developed new initiatives (11% a great deal, 15% quite a lot, 56% a little).
Some examples:
I've used the ideas to expand the way we work with others as an organisation.
I am reviewing our Sounding Board which is our consultation group and want to see how we can embed the principles and behaviours into this review.
Dealing with all the imposed changes caused by the demolition of our library hub, to make way for a new medical centre.
Planning a pilot of face-to-face access point to trial and experiment.
It's more a reinforcement of the values I hope to lead by and Better Way helps me to both remind me how I can do that and the behaviours help with specifics.
Helped me realise how unique a lot of our work is so have been more strident in making a case for us.
Using an asset-based approach.
More consideration to community and importance of place.
Reminds me to listen and reflect.
6. Has participation in the Better Way network enabled you to share your ideas and insights with others?
82% have been able to share ideas (27% a great deal, 18% quite a lot, 36% a little).
Some examples:
Working in collaboration with communities to influence and delivery of services.
Care micro-enterprises, individual service funds, place-based commissioning, co-design.
I share your information and newsletters with others working in this area to try and influence their thinking.
The drop-in sessions are very useful for sharing, contacts, ideas and action across the country.
Mainly in discussion at events which are both supportive and challenging, in a good way.
7. What three words would you use to sum up your experience of being involved in the Better Way?
Note: while as shown above nearly all the words used were positive, 1 person (out of 36) indicated dissatisfaction, saying ‘not, much, disappointing’.
When asked about what could be done to improve the network or the way we operate, suggestions included:
Outreach to potential new organisations or members.
Engage more decision makers and influencers.
More regional/local activity.
More face-to-face meetings and regional joint initiatives i.e. people agreeing to work together on a common shared aim.
More opportunity to zoom in on individual members' opportunities and challenges.
More practical/tangible tools/ideas for innovative approaches to social care commissioning.
Incorporating Justice into conversations and actions.
Printing is expensive, but hard copies like the most recent leaflet would be useful.
8. Would you consider making a donation?
To make the Network more sustainable, we are thinking about inviting donations from individual members towards our activity costs (e.g. our publications, events, communications). These would be entirely voluntary and would not be a condition of membership.
When asked whether you would consider making a donation, 36% said yes, 36% said maybe, and 28% said no. Also, when asked whether your organisation might be open to a discussion about making a donation, 22% said yes and 33% said maybe.
9. Do you think the Better Way network should continue?
85% believe the Better Way network should continue. Nobody said they thought the network should not continue. 15% don’t know.
Some comments:
I tell people about it all the time.
It’s an important positive initiative – I wish I had more time to benefit from it.
Wishing you every success in the future.
Thank you for your activities to date.
It's great, thank you, we need this thinking space more than ever at the moment, so we don't drown in crisis misery!