“Sometimes a simple question asked in a low-tech way, can provide the most amazing and unexpected insights,” says Jo Edwards, Relationship Manager at The Wyatt Trust.
This was a key takeaway from two shared reflection workshops recently convened by The Wyatt Trust with its Housing Program and Financial Wellbeing partners. The sessions are part of an ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge twice per year.
Each of the participating organisations has been funded for two or three years through Wyatt’s Partner Grants program.
Rather than creating more work for the not-for-profit organisations, the purpose of the workshops is to “shortcut some of the evaluation process to collectively understand and test, if and how, the grant program supports shared beliefs and principles” Jo explains.
“We know our relationship as a local funder sits at a respectful distance from our grant partners’ busy day-to-day operations and we have been working to make fewer demands on their time, not more.”
Incorporating these workshops as part of the funding process isn’t new for Wyatt.
“A few years ago, we piloted a new model of granting that removed many of the restrictions of previous grant programs. We wanted to learn what was working and what wasn’t, so we held shared evaluation and learning workshops over two years with our Capacity Grants program partners,” explains Keren Sutton, Wyatt’s Programs & Impact Lead.
The workshops became spaces where grant partners and the Wyatt team could come together to share, learn and adapt their respective practices and the program.
“As a funder, we recognise that we are not the technical expert on issues like homelessness,” Keren says.
“By working in partnership with organisations that work with people who have lived experience, we can build a shared understanding of what’s happening, what needs to change, and how we can advocate together. We are influenced to change our practice.”
Creating space for effective listening
At the most recent Financial Wellbeing session, each of the ten partners participated face to face as part of the current three-year agreements.
“We always appreciate the time our regional partners take to meet with us and the feedback has been that the workshops provide a valuable
networking opportunity and a chance to reflect on and evaluate the use of Wyatt funds, where they sit in the bigger picture, what's working
and what could be done better,” says Angela Meegan, Relationship Manager at The Wyatt Trust.
“It is a valued learning opportunity for all, including Wyatt.”
As a group of partners, the Financial Wellbeing group discussed opportunities for collecting and sharing information and resources, raising advocacy issues and reporting on trends and challenges.
“Energy levels were high, and we have agreed to stay connected between meetings through a Teams chat,” Angela says.
Mon Saunders from Rural Business Support says the shared learning sessions have become a valuable avenue for professional growth.
“Wyatt’s Financial Wellbeing sessions provide an important opportunity for us to come together with a shared commitment to empower our individual community of clients to navigate their way through financial hardship,” Mon explains.
“There is no jealousy of information, but rather deep collaboration and the sharing of tools, contacts and solutions that can be applied across organisations. The more we attend these sessions the better I get to know other service providers and their strengths and learnings. I find these sessions overwhelmingly inspiring.”
Kelly Hughes from Lutheran Care echoes this sentiment and says the networking opportunities enabled by the gathering are very valuable.
“As agency managers we get consumed by business so it's really nice to be able to reflect and connect, hearing that we are all having the same experiences,” Kelly says.
“I also really love hearing the innovative ideas that come from each agency, different projects that are happening and the creative ways they are working with clients. There is such a best practice lens and generosity of sharing in that room, all about outcomes not competition which is really refreshing and so enjoyable.”
It was a similar experience for Wyatt’s Housing Program partners, who were brought together in this way for the first time.
“The most valuable part of the session was having a space where we could come together and learn about the different aspects and approaches to how we are using Wyatt funded brokerage, and brokerage in general, to support people in need,” says Sandra Fuchs from Uniting Country SA, representing Country North Homelessness Alliance.
“As Wyatt allows each of us the flexibility to develop brokerage programs that best meet our individual client need (within boundaries), the workshop provided the opportunity to explore what this means for our clients, to compare notes, hear how others are delivering the programs and to learn more about or pick up practices that can be adapted - improving service delivery across the sector.”
The energy and openness in the room for the first session with housing partners was inspiring and uplifting, says Wyatt’s Jo Edwards.
“Housing is an area that has a whole lot going on in the structural and technical areas of service delivery,” Jo says. “There is also a space in between - and that’s the space for networks and connection.
“At this first session, we explored together how we wanted to shape future sessions. Of interest to the group was understanding impact through stories of change and insights from the sector around the elements and resources working together that can change a person’s circumstances.
“It was heartening to see how much everybody seemed to get from this different combination of people around the table.”
