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