overseeing it have partnered with Oxfordshire Homeless Pathways. As a consequence of this partnership the build will encompass a space where rough sleepers can go to be accommodated, in that partnership a dialogue about rough sleeping, about how to support them and they’re having train their staff and ultimately develop a strategy so that anyone who chooses to go there can referred to the charity - so a symbiotic relationship. it’s Oxfordshire also hosts two networks designed to enhance business-community engagement. ROBIN and Reciprocate. While ROBIN was initially funded it has found a way to continue based on the volunteer time of been held its original members. It’s as a positive example at this and other networks but its members described it as a a work in progress, as good as it can be at the moment but it has real ‘very much it’s potential to do The business membership is almost entirely SMEs which holds more’. learning for other areas. However, this also means that it is free, run by volunteers and charge fees to extend its work. Reciprocate is hosted by the Oxfordshire can’t Community Foundation and runs on the basis of members making pledges to do more, and helps organisations to make those connections. This is a new initiative but potentially a model that could be used elsewhere. Another example of a network model with longevity is Connect Dacorum - supported by the Chamber of Commerce and CVS. This is a membership network hosting four meetings bringing the sectors together. It has been going for 10 years and has built positive relationships. So across the region there were strong examples of good practice around brokerage and some successful cross collaborative networks. Needed? What’s Networking opportunities While some networks already existed there was a consensus that forums like the one created for this workshop are really helpful, and we should ‘it’s South East wide do it more They also saw the need for more localised networks which regularly’. brought businesses and charities together to talk about what both sides want, similar to the model of ROBIN. Participants also felt that networking between the charities added value since can offer something to in terms of learning – ‘charities charities’,
overseeing it have partnered with Oxfordshire Homeless Pathways. As a consequence of this partnership the build will encompass a space where rough sleepers can go to be accommodated, in that partnership they’re having a dialogue about rough sleeping, about how to support them and train their staff and ultimately develop a strategy so that anyone who chooses to go there can referred to the charity - so it’s a symbiotic relationship. Oxfordshire also hosts two networks designed to enhance business-community engagement. ROBIN and Reciprocate. While ROBIN was initially funded it has found a way to continue based on the volunteer time of its original members. It’s been held as a positive example at this and other networks but its members described it as a ‘very much a work in progress, it’s as good as it can be at the moment but it has real potential to do more’. The business membership is almost entirely SMEs which holds learning for other areas. However, this also means that it is free, run by volunteers and can’t charge fees to extend its work. Reciprocate is hosted by the Oxfordshire Community Foundation and runs on the basis of members making pledges to do more, and helps organisations to make those connections. This is a new initiative but potentially a model that could be used elsewhere. Another example of a network model with longevity is Connect Dacorum - supported by the Chamber of Commerce and CVS. This is a membership network hosting four meetings bringing the sectors together. It has been going for 10 years and has built positive relationships. So across the region there were strong examples of good practice around brokerage and some successful cross collaborative networks. What’s Needed? Networking opportunities While some networks already existed there was a consensus that forums like the one created for this workshop are really helpful, ‘it’s South East wide and we should do it more regularly’. They also saw the need for more localised networks which brought businesses and charities together to talk about what both sides want, similar to the model of ROBIN. Participants also felt that networking between the charities added value since – ‘charities can offer something to charities’, in terms of learning