Why collaborate?

The benefits of collaboration seem clear to us but don't take our word for it 

We understand that collaboration is not for everyone.  However, there are many reasons to get together with other local groups. Don't take our word for it - check out the research below.

Survive and improve

Many funders see partnership working as the way to get better value for their money. Forging partnerships across all sectors is one way forward.

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Collaborate Resource Kit -Housing Association’s Charitable Trust, HACT, July 2008. 

Working in a consortium: A guide for third sector organisations involved in public service delivery - Office of the Third Sector, Cabinet Office, Dec 2008

Joint working for public service delivery - NCVO Collaborative Working Unit, Feb 2006.

Share your knowledge and improve your chances

Although you may be best placed to understand the needs of your local communities, you may not be resourced to demonstrate your skill to funders. Collaborating with larger, national partners is a way to solve this.

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Strengthening opportunities, sharing skills and resources - Sustainable Partnership Action Network (SPAN)
 - How six community sector partners are collaborating to share resources and skills and avoid duplication of effort.

Bedford Funding Partnership - Tackling sustainable funding together. - Small independent charities working in Bedford are working together to develop a legacy strategy, run joint fundraising activities and explore a trading arm.

Get your voice heard

Collaboration is a powerful way to improve community involvement. When local groups work well together with their local authority, they have more clout in getting their voices heard and the community gets better services as a result. Win win.

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Campaigning in collaboration summary - National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), March 2007. The full publication is available from NCVO for £15.

A county-wide network to support community development activity - Penwith Community Development Trust and Inter-link Cornwall - How a county-wide network supports the voluntary and community sector in Cornwall to be confident, empowered and provide a voice at the local level

Work more efficiently

Even before the economic downturn, sustainable funding was a challenge. Local authority budgets never seem to keep up with the cost of services and basic overheads. Collaboration can help you keep going at the same time as reducing overheads and making precious income go further.

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Working together for better office infrastructure - feasibility study led by Sayer Vincent for ACEVO, 2006

A study on the experience and impact of co-location for bassac and DTA -IVAR, Sep 2006

Sharing back office services - This publication is aimed at chief executives, managers and trustees and covers the different ways that organisations can work together. National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), Sept 2005.