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Working with IVAR has been a real pleasure: their professionalism and willingness to help are of course what you would expect but they gave so much more, in particular the ability to help us think through complex issues and to bear with us whilst we asked the simple questions. IVAR sticks clearly to agreed processes but within this were flexible in meeting our needs and timeframes, allowing us to deal with the emotions involved in mergers.

Each study has thrown up different issues which the people at IVAR have helped us work through: they have certainly helped us focus and deal with the real issues. I would have no hesitation in recommending IVAR, they bring great knowledge and experience in mergers and collaborative working yet recognise the individual nature of each study and give time to deal with the impact such studies have on individuals as well as organisations.
Kevin Williams, Chief Executive, TACT (The Adolescent and Children’s Trust)

In November last year, as the newly elected Chair of Trustees of a small voluntary adoption agency, I found myself with two colleagues supporting the agency through a study with IVAR covering a proposed merger. As agreed there were interviews with key staff and trustees allowing everyone to feel involved in the consultation and we all shared the feedback at each stage. Interviews and meetings were structured but sensitive to our needs, enabling us to consider the sometimes difficult issues surrounding the probable change to collaborative working with a large agency. The study took just four months but we never felt rushed.

I was really impressed by the level of knowledge and understanding of issues surrounding adoption work which IVAR personnel demonstrated and this gave me great confidence in their ability to lead us through the process to the position where the trustees were able to make a fully-informed decision. As volunteers it has been a positive experience to work with professionals who brought personal skills to the process which enabled us to feel ‘in control’ and confident that our ultimate decision would be in the best interests of the staff and clients of our agency. I am happy that the agency will continue to carry out its valuable work, because we chose IVAR.
Gillian Santi, Chair, Independent Adoption Service

Children Law UK promotes justice for children. By linking professionals and policy makers it acts as the leading catalyst to achieve the best solutions for all children in legal proceedings. The invitation to merge came from the CEO of TACT; on the face of it we seemed without synergy but as discussion progressed it became apparent that it could be a perfect match. The merger would have been almost impossible if IVAR had not been involved with the negotiations. Having an independent facilitator, even when both charities want to merge from the start, has speeded the process to the most successful outcome.
Belinda Harding, Chair, Children Law UK

IVAR has been formative in changing the way bassac thinks and works. Through their unique application of action research, they’ve provided us with an unequivocal evidence base from which we’ve been able to shape national policy, along with really strengthening the capacity of our members.

Their ability to engage with Settlements and Social Action centres on their terms - in applying high levels of academic rigour - is exceptional. I couldn’t recommend them more highly as a provider of empirical, community level research or as a partner in the subsequent policy shaping work that this enables.
Ben Hughes, Chief Executive, bassac

The Community Alliance has derived enormous benefit from the objectivity and analytical rigour which the realtime evaluation process has contributed to its programme. The IVAR team’s understanding of the issues faced by the community sector, coupled with a preparedness to challenge us (sensitively!) where necessary has been invaluable. Having this insight has been a key factor in our development during the last year.
Bec Clarkson, Programme Director, Community Alliance