Relational working demands a different operational model built emergent action, meaning actions and activities responded dynamically to what arose rather than following a fixed, predetermined plan, often operating in three-month cycles with Sprint Reviews for reflection.
Behind the Scenes: Money, Transparency, and What I Learnt About Finance in Belong in Plymouth
Whoever controls the money, however it is held and distributed, inevitably has one of the most significant influences on how work progresses. Of all the moving parts in Belong in Plymouth, managing t...
Starting conditions - summary
We developed an operational model built on four key starting conditions: open communications, self-employed contracts, fixed pay rates, and open finance. These approaches created flexibility and trans...
Starting conditions - open communications
We established openness as the default communication principle rather than keeping information closed. This transparency was implemented through groups.io as the primary platform, though it wasn't wit...
Starting conditions - self employment/sub contractors
The self-employed contract model at Belong in Plymouth created a distinctive structure where most contributors worked approximately one day per week. This approach brought numerous benefits that ulti...
Starting conditions - fixed pay rates
We implemented a straightforward compensation system with standard rates: £40 per hour for delivering work and £20 per hour for attending meetings. While this dual-rate structure created clarity in pr...
Starting conditions - open finance
Financial transparency was a journey of continuous improvement at Belong in Plymouth. Initially, the system was in constant flux, making it difficult for team members to follow. This challenge was com...
The freelance experience
Introduction Everyone who worked on Belong in Plymouth did so in a part-time capacity. For some, it was part of a salaried role, but more than half of the ‘core team’ were self-employed. Part-time ho...
Defining the 'vision' for Belong in Plymouth
In February 2022, the core team of Belong in Plymouth came together to create a Theory of Change for our work. This proved to be challenging due to the emergent nature of the work and the trickiness o...
Expression of Interest - March 2020
Please tell us why you are applying. What does the partnership want to achieve and why, and over what period of time? Why do you think you can be successful? In Plymouth, our aspiration is to ‘shift ...
Stage 1 submission - September 2020
Please describe specifically which groups or communities your partnership seeks to benefit and how you will involve them in developing a plan over the first 6-9 months. How will your approach promote ...
Stage 2 submission - October 2021
In 4 years time, success looks like: An established, ongoing community conversation continually feeding into strategic decision-making. Quality support for immediate community action, which is furth...
Moving away from command and control
When working in collaboration, there is no command or control. The normal organisational structure is lacking. Each organisation and each individual is a sovereign body in their own right. Working on ...