“Collaboration doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it”, was the key message from Simon Berry, ruralnet|uk’s Chief Executive, at their Collaboration Convention held in Warwick last week.
The event was attended by over 100 stakeholders including frontline rural and urban voluntary organisations, funders and regeneration agencies. It consisted of 21 workshops running in five parallel streams with ruralnet|uk's partners taking charge of four of these sessions. It was designed as an opportunity for delegates to strengthen relationships with existing partners and start new ones with others.
Talking to this diverse audience, Simon was also keen to stress that to successfully collaborate was more difficult than competing.
“Collaboration is an endangered word, and there is a risk of it going along the same path as the word ‘partnership’ if we are not careful . . . collaboration is an order of magnitude more challenging and complex than competition.
“Real collaboration needs trust, a shared set of values and a clear understanding of what’s in it for each of the collaborators. This takes time to establish and to maintain”, he continued.
Through his work at ruralnet|uk Simon has first-hand experience the investment needed to cultivate collaborative relationships. ruralnet|uk was established to link and support those working in rural communities and the techniques used have now extended to urban areas as well. This support may be to make connections between people, linking those who need support with those with the skills and experience to provide it. It may ensure that the right information gets to the right people just when they need it, helping to ensure that project partnerships can achieve their full potential.
For more information about the event proceedings call Simon Berry on 0845 1300 411.
Photograph © Lee Wilkins
Editors’ notes
1. ruralnet|uk is a rural regeneration charity (no 1089238). See: www.ruralnetuk.org/index.htm
For a list of ruralnet|uk's partners past and present see: http://www.ruralnetuk.org/partners/partners.htm
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