Reflection: ‘Grow to Irreverence’, Moray Wellbeing Hub as an example of recommended grassroots approach to organisations of the future – a Champion view

HeidiNews, Reflection

Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC not only sets out to create a local resource for people to create change, but also to disrupt and experiment with the way an organisation operates to enable such resources to work sustainably and effectively. One of our Champions who has a community development background found this article on Scottish Community Alliance that calls for change in the third sector and wider to support lasting change in wellbeing for communities, and they felt there were many of the recommendations we were already taking forward. Core to our work is changing power dynamics, supporting people to become active citizens and accessing the tools they need to create change organically in their existing roles.

If you lead an organisation locally and are interested in taking new approaches we recommend you get in touch with Edward at tsiMORAY who recently held a Future Governance Forum for Moray and will be looking to encourage more discussion on this topic. Another great inspirational place to look at this kind of approach is around ULab and the work of Otto Scharmer.

Scottish Community Alliance article – Grow to irreverence

Why MWH is an example of good practice in relation to this?

Below are quotes from the SCA article as to how I think the recommendations link to the work led by Moray Wellbeing Hub currently.

  •  “A startling research study suggests that when people with health conditions are supported by community groups and volunteers, both they and the NHS benefit”.  I think this is the core of MWH, that the essence of the champions are…….”volunteer “connectors” to forge links between people who need help and those who can support them.”
  • “The benefits intrinsic to making social connections are powerful: creating friendships, reducing social isolation, building self-confidence and helping people to exert control over their lives. Social contact, it seems, makes people happier, healthier and more resilient.” sums MWH up very succinctly!
  • “reconnecting with grassroots networks” – isn’t this what MWH does so well, getting ordinary people onboard to do small things in great ways? And MWH recognises and supports folk for “the real campaigning energy in communities – both in actual places and online – and that,  is where change happens and mission, trust and legitimacy can be renewed. Changing communities by affecting individuals, one person at a time
  • Civil Society Futures inquiry states that if civil society is to respond to the massive social challenges of the next decades it must learn to devolve and share power and control, “There’s a growing sense in the voluntary sector that…… corporate approach to scale and brand, is not driving the changes we need,” says Shelter’s chief executive, Polly Neate . “We can’t do it any more, because it is not working.”
  •  “Too often in civil society, size, turnover and short-term measures of impact are seen as the best measures of success. But we have heard loud and clear that real, long-lasting success comes from the depth and breadth of connections with people and communities, and the opportunity for everyone to have power,” the inquiry concludes.  And that is exactly where I feel MWH has slotted into Moray

Find out more about what becoming a Champion with Moray Wellbeing Hub is about and how you can get involved.

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