In the diverse London borough of Haringey, the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) plays a pivotal role in supporting residents and addressing critical issues such as unemployment, social exclusion, and rising living costs. The Haringey Community Collaborative, established in May 2024 and commissioned by Haringey Council, aims to provide strategic leadership and capacity building for the VCS.
The Collaborative is managed by Public Voice, a Community Interest Company (CIC) based in Haringey, in partnership with Mind in Haringey.
Co-production is at the heart of the Haringey Community Collaborative’s strategy. This approach involves working collaboratively with more than 70 VCS organisations and other stakeholders to identify and prioritise key areas of need. The Collaborative’s commitment to co-production ensures that the voices of the community and VCS organisations are central to decision-making processes, leading to more effective and relevant outcomes.
The co-production process
When the Collaborative was launched in May 2024, the initial phase involved a comprehensive co-design process to identify and prioritise key areas of need. This process included several stages:
Literature Review and Research: The Collaborative began by conducting extensive research to understand the existing issues and challenges in Haringey. This included analysing strategies, visions, and action plans relevant to the borough, as well as consulting with local experts.
Survey and Feedback: A survey was distributed to VCS organisations to gather initial views and rankings of priorities. Over 50 organisations participated, highlighting the most pressing issues facing the community.
Workshops and Interviews: Through workshops and interviews with strategic leaders from the VCS, statutory sector, and subject matter experts, the Collaborative identified the strengths of the VCS and the key challenges that needed to be addressed.
Defining Priorities: Based on the insights gathered, the Collaborative facilitated workshops to decide on the priority themes. This stage involved in-depth discussions to ensure that the identified priorities were aligned with the needs of the community.
Through this co-production process, the Collaborative identified the rising ‘Cost of Living’ as the most critical issue within Haringey.
Priority areas
This overarching theme was broken down into three key priority areas:
Basic Needs: Addressing challenges related to the affordability of necessities such as clothing, hygiene products, food security, fuel poverty, and access to affordable housing.
Community and Support Services: Enhancing social inclusion through the provision of social spaces, improved networking opportunities, digital skills training, accessible advocacy, and a comprehensive one-stop-shop for support.
Financial Stability: Supporting employability and entrepreneurship by providing upskilling opportunities, job application training, and guidance for starting businesses.
To address these priorities, the Haringey Community Collaborative launched their first ‘Challenge Fund’, providing small grants ranging from £500 to £3,000 to grassroots VCS organisations. The awardees were selected by a community grant panel, consisting of five people who live, work or volunteer within Haringey. The eight Haringey based VCS organisations selected were:
- Bounds Green Food Bank
- A Fairer Chance CIC
- PramDepot
- TLC (Tender Love and Care)
- The Cheer-Up Squad
- Wave Muswell Hill CIO (Wave Hub)
- Haringey Over 50s Forum
- Women at the Well of Living Waters
This seed funding enabled these organisations to test innovative projects and build evidence of their impact, helping them secure additional funding from other sources. The funded projects address the key priority areas in unique and diverse ways. For example, the projects include a local food bank, digital skills peer-support workshops to improve saving habits in Northumberland Park, and baby-boxes to support new mothers and babies.
Collective activities
The first activity undertaken with the cohort was an interactive ‘Theory of Change’ workshop, allowing the groups to develop their plans and clarify the aims and impact of their projects. This allowed the group to see that while their projects are targeted and unique, they are collectively playing their part in improving the lives of people in Haringey most affected by the rising cost of living.
In addition to the Challenge Fund, the Collaborative provides capacity building support to VCS organisations. This includes training on governance, project delivery, bid writing, volunteer engagement, technology, and knowledge sharing. By enhancing the capacity of VCS organisations, the Collaborative aims to ensure that they can continue to effectively support the community.
The Haringey Community Collaborative’s approach to co-production exemplifies the power of collective action. By engaging the VCS and the community in the decision-making process, the Collaborative has ensured that its priorities are aligned with the needs of residents in Haringey.
As Haringey faces the pressures of a growing population and rising living costs, the Collaborative’s efforts offer a pathway to a more equitable and resilient community. Through the Challenge Fund and ongoing capacity building support, the Collaborative is committed to empowering VCS organisations and fostering a community where all residents can thrive.
For more information on the Haringey Community Collaborative and the upcoming Challenge Fund, join the mailing list and stay updated on the latest developments.
