Responding to recent shifts in policy and the economy, some public and independent funders are working together on a range of issues from mental health crisis-care to school exclusion. This report collates learning from five such partnerships, with praise for collaborative champions who can ‘leave their organisation at the door’ and other advice for cross-sector working.
The research highlights eight key elements of collaborative funding in practice:
- Independent funding as a source of support for developing new ways of working
- ‘Collaborative champions’ or key individuals that can drive the work
- Developing appropriate processes through co-design
- Clarity about roles and responsibilities
- Listening and responding to service user voices
- Investment of time and resources in building relationships and processes
- Shared understanding about impact and reporting
- Sustainability and exit built into the process
