🤔 How do you build neighbourhood networks that genuinely put residents in the driving seat?
That’s the question we’ve been wrestling with in Barking and Dagenham.
In April this year, BD_Collective signed a contract to facilitate the creation of ten hyper-local networks across Barking and Dagenham. The contract was co-designed in 2024 by the council and the social sector, using learning from a previous programme and the deep expertise of those involved.
These networks are designed to be driven by resident voice, with the hope that they will help change the fabric of our neighbourhoods, creating a stronger, more connected community, with the ultimate goal of reducing pressure on both NHS and council services. Obviously, that is not going to be easy to accomplish.
Now, six months in, we have launched our first three networks and started the journey of learning alongside them before we add to their number, hopefully going from strength to strength.
Reflections from the beginning
Capacity is an issue
You know how you can think you know something and then you can really know something? Despite generous predictions on the timeframe, it has still taken us longer to get to this point than we had intended.
Why? Because getting more than two busy people in the same room, at the same time, is hard work. And the social sector organisations that I’m working with are busy. Engaging with any new piece of work for them is a cost, however interested they are in it and however beneficial it may be.
🌱 Learning: Let the sector guide the pace, rather than trying to stick to tight guidelines.
Co-design does not pave the way to happiness
I wish it were that simple. Co-design and co-production may create the best overall product, limit the sense of being ‘done to’, and increase the level of buy-in, but we’re human, and we’re very good at finding something to be unhappy with, especially when our ‘voice’ actually makes up a minority.
🌱 Learning: Expect criticism, even when a programme was created by a wide range of voices.
Open-ended is uncomfortable
We’ve tried not to be too prescriptive in how the programme is delivered but getting the balance right is tricky. On the one hand, we need enough ‘rules’ in there to make sure that we get the governance side of things right e.g. reporting, finance etc. but not so much that the networks can’t form organically, in a way that is suitable to the organisations and locations involved.
🌱 Learning: Whilst we like the idea of choice and freedom, we’re used to working in ways that are overly prescriptive, particularly when it comes to grants and commissions, and breaking out of that way of working takes time.
Which brings me to my next point…
We all bring our baggage
It’s exciting to be part of a new programme, to have vision, to see the potential of what it could achieve, but we can’t escape our previous experience, neither good nor bad. It’s been interesting to see who has shown interest in being part of the neighbourhood network programme – a mixture of the ‘old guard’ and some newer groups, who haven’t engaged in similar projects.
Working with them and hearing what they have to say is an important part of the process. Acknowledging openly that we’re a tired sector, with not enough investment has helped defuse tension and keep conversations constructive.
🌱 Learning: It’s easy to allow cynicism and the pain of previous experiences to creep in the door – don’t ignore the elephant in the room.
Moving forward
The EOI process is open, waiting for the next cohort to come and join in. In late November, we’ll be meeting up with the first three networks to share our experiences and consider what we’ve learned so far.
We’re excited to see how organisations engage with their residents to hear what they want to see happen in their neighbourhoods, and perhaps even see one or two new programmes emerge!
We are only at the beginning, but these early steps are already helping to shape how we work as a social sector. If you’ve been part of system change work elsewhere, we’d love to hear what you have learned along the way!
Written by Jenny Fribbins – feel free to contact me for a conversation: jenny@bdcollective.co.uk or visit our webpage for more info: https://bdcollective.co.uk/neighbourhood-networks/
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