Working in Partnership

One you have established your working group and have started to formulate plans for carrying out your project, you may become aware of the need for help from outside agencies.

You may be lucky and have people within your group who are able to offer a range of skills and expertise, but many community projects are too costly and time consuming for the group to undertake by themselves.

Often, working in Partnership is the answer. A partnership means – the coming together of two or more partners to work together for common purposes and to achieve common aims.

Partners can contribute a wealth of experience and the expertise needed to put your ideas into action. They also have the ability to be objective and to help your group develop a sense of purpose and continuity.

Community groups tend to get more done when working with partners, especially when the partners involved are from local authorities, public bodies and businesses. As an example, a community who have completed a “ Planning for Real”® exercise and who are now prioritising for action, can gain a large amount of help and knowledge if they invite outside agencies such as the Police, Local Authority or Health Practitioners to become involved. These experts can tell them if a project is feasible and will be able to offer the advice needed to put the suggested ideas into action.

Many community groups benefit from partnership working when looking to secure funds. Most of the major funding bodies will be more willing to listen to what you have to say and to support your project if you are backed by one or more organisation who are not part of your community group.

It is also possible to seek help from an impartial organisation who will be focused upon your group and the way you operate, and who can help you from the initial stages of your project by advising on the set –up of the group, through to helping with funding applications and negotiating with outside agencies. The Buchan Development Partnership are such an organisation and will be happy to advise you on any aspect of setting up a group and developing a project.

Useful links: SCVO