Episode description

In this episode, Tracey Newman and Dan Bentley speak with Allison Wainwright, the CEO of Family Life.

The discussion explores the innovative, community-centered approaches of Family Life's strategic focus on community listening, designing community-driven solutions, empowering local leaders, and collaborating with other place-based organisations to drive systemic change.

Here is a taste of what Tracey and Dan cover in the conversation:

• Family Life focusing on supporting families and building community networks and has a deep interest in working with children and helping them thrive.
• Talks about the common anxiety people have about community support for vulnerable individuals and the importance of practical ways to create community models of support.
• Highlights the importance of community abundance and the need to shift from a scarcity mindset to recognising community solutions.
• Discuss the importance of a social contract with the community and embedding community listening in strategic planning.
• Family Life has a formal community listening program, including community listening tours to understand the impacts of events like COVID-19.
• Explains the methodology of gathering data and hosting events to sense-make community challenges and strengths.
• Family Life uses a backbone function to help drive community solution plans and connect people and organisations.
• Creating Capable Leaders program, which helps community members develop the skills and confidence to make a difference and Young Leaders for Change Program, which focuses on upskilling young people in community leadership.
• Family Life uses technology-based tools like Map Your World to help community members map and address local issues.
• Allison highlights the need to move away from competition and work together to support community better.
• Allison introduces Family Life's innovation pillars, which include community activation, addressing loneliness and social isolation, and supporting families.
• Emphasises the importance of a curious lens and asking "I wonder" questions to drive innovation and community-centered work.

Links from the episode:

• Family Life: Click here
• Allison Wainwright LinkedIn: Click here
• Innovate For Impact Workshop: Click here
• The Impacto Consulting website: Click here
• Impacto Consulting on LinkedIn: Click here