This document outlines plans for the NCVO to create a new distributed network to better connect its members. The current centralized model has members connecting only with NCVO, rather than each other. The new vision is for a platform where horizontal relationships are central, members can easily connect and self-organize, and share knowledge to support each other practically and emotionally. This is intended to strengthen civil society impact. The next phase will develop a detailed proposal and funding budget to test assumptions and build understanding and capacity among partners to launch the new network by 2023.

1. WELCOME TO ‘BUILDING NETWORKS ACROSS THE
NCVO COMMUNITY’ WORKSHOP
TOP UP YOUR DRINKS, TAKE A COMFORT BREAK, HAVE A QUICK
STRETCH!
WORKSHOP WILL START AT 13.10

2. Phase 1: Scoping
November 2022
NCVO
Building member
relationships

3. NCVO strategic goal 3:
CONNECT - Uniting people who want charities to thrive
We're stronger as a sector when we come together. Charities and
volunteers need a support system that can grow and sustain voluntary
action. We'll focus on strong relationships at the core of what we do.
We'll:
● create connections across our membership and networks to facilitate
learning, collaboration and the development of ideas

4. A simple question:
How do we enable NCVO members to
connect with each other?
(But a harder challenge to solve)

5. Quick fire questions:
• How many of you belong to a
professional network?
• Which networks are these?
• How do you connect?

6. Where we are now
A centralised membership network where
● NCVO has 1:1 relationships with
members
● Members cannot easily connect and
organise with each other
● NCVO is “the expert”, sharing
knowledge and resources.

7. “Membership should be a community of
organisations coming together to achieve
a shared purpose rather than a
relationship only between NCVO and the
individual member.”
– NCVO strategy process

8. Vision
A distributed NCVO network where…
● Horizontal relationship are at the heart
● Our members users can talk to each other
and it’s easy to self-organise
● NCVO communicates and engages with
members in a new way
● Members share knowledge and expertise,
and support each other practically and
emotionally
● Unleashing their innate energy and capacity
● Better meeting the needs of their
communities
● Strengthening the impact and influence of
civil society

9. Ways of convening

10. Enabled by

11. A member’s experience in 2030
Doing
● I ask my safeguarding group a question
and get 3 helpful replies back
● I’m able to share my experience and
based on a challenge I overcame
recently
● I go to a local meetup for children’s
charities – we’re planning a local
campaign with businesses and
councillors
● I join an online roundtable with NCVO
and the Minister for Children, Young
people and families
● I take part in my monthly Action
Learning Set
Think/ feel/ believe
● I feel supported practically and
emotionally (solidarity from peers)
and I can support others
● I’m able to focus on more strategic
activity, as the day-to-day problems
are easier to solve
● I feel a high degree of autonomy. I
know I can make change happen as
part of the collective
Impact
● I fixed a problem in my organisation
● I made something better for those
using our service
● I helped someone else with a
problem
● I won a new piece of work
● We achieved a big policy change
through our organising.

12. Questions and discussion
● What questions/reflections/feedback do you have?
● Which aspects excite you the most?
● What type of networks would you find most useful?
● NCVO led vs. self-organising?
● Volunteer community hosts?
● Benefits?
● How will we overcome barriers to engagement?

13. Phase 2: Getting ready
February - October 2023.
Output: A detailed proposal for funders. Contents will include:
● Funding budget
● 5-year timeline
● Partnership outline, including shared values and approach of NCVO and partners
● Formal governance arrangements
● Insight from members, following research
● Insight from testing some critical assumptions
● How we will build the understanding and capacity of NCVO and other partners,
including details of any roles to be recruited
● A plan for how we will work in the open and share learning as we go
● Mapping of potential risks or harms.

14. AGM & MEMBER EVENT
PLEASE RETURN TO THE MAIN ROOM

17. Building member relationships powers our strategy
Strong,
mutual
relationships
as central to
what NCVO
does and
how we do it
Platform for members
to connect with each
other
Alex

18. A member’s experience in 2030
Connect Learn Share
Doing I go to a local meetup for
children’s charities – we’re
planning a local campaign with
businesses and councillors
I ask my safeguarding group a
question and get 3 helpful replies
back
I take part in my monthly Action
Learning Set
I’m able to share my experience, based on
a challenge I overcame recently
I join an online roundtable with NCVO and
the Minister for Children, Young people
and families
Think/
Feel/
Believe
I feel supported practically and
emotionally (solidarity from
peers) and I can support others
I’m able to focus on more
strategic activity, as the day-to-
day problems are easier to solve
I feel a high degree of
autonomy. I know I can make
change happen as part of the
collective
Impact I fixed a problem in my
organisation
I made something better for
those using our service
I won a new piece of work
We achieved a big policy
change through our organising.
I helped someone else with a problem