On May 21st, Pathways to Economic Opportunities (P2E) concluded our final organisational development workshop, focusing on the important topic of sustainability.
This session was led by Karl Murray from the Ubele Initiative, one of our P2E partners, and kicked off with a thought-provoking activity designed to highlight the importance of building strong organisational foundations.
The Tower Building Challenge
The workshop began with a hands-on activity that invited participants to work in groups and build a tower using materials available on their tables – pieces of card, A4 sheets, plasticine, and tape. The goal was to build a tower two A4 sheets high that could support a clementine on top without collapsing. Each group had 15 minutes to design and build the tower.
This exercise highlighted several key lessons:
- Resource sharing and collaboration: Groups quickly realised the necessity of sharing resources like tape, illustrating the importance of collaboration and support within and between organisations, particularly those working towards similar goals.
- Strategic Planning: Early discussions on strategy and vision supported groups with direction and underscored the need for well thought out plans.
- Adaptability: One group who arrived late had to adapt quickly, mirroring the need for organisations to be agile and to adapt without compromising their missions and values
Reflections on Sustainability and Adaptability
Once the 15 minutes were up, each group tested their structure by placing a clementine on top, observing how long it could stay balanced before the structure toppled.
The exercise served as a powerful reflection on the robustness of organisational structures and that without establishing solid foundations, an organisation could jeopardise their long-term success. Participants shared insights on the importance of having a shared vision and strategies to ensure sustainability from the onset.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the tendency of organisations to modify their goals to secure funding, often at the expense of their original mission and values. Karl highlighted that taking time to realign organisational aims is a strategic move that can benefit long-term sustainability. It allows organisations to remain true to their core values while pursuing growth and stability.
The Broader Impact of P2E
“It has been a privilege to contribute to a programme with both a learning partner and an organisational development partner, supporting organisation sustainability for partners and understanding the fund and partner’s contribution to the programme and wider youth employment sector.”
The workshop focused on sustainability within organisations, a key component of P2E’s capacity building model.
Over the past two years, Action for Race Equality, in partnership with Ubele Initiative, London Community Foundation, and JPMorganChase, has supported 19 BME organisations in London providing employment, enterprise and financial health services. The programme included workshops and 1-1 consultancy tailored to the specific needs of each organisation.
Over the course of the programme, we have employed techniques such as World Cafes, Action Learnings Sets, and Lightening Decision Jams to explore topics like managing organisational change, establishing long-term partnerships, exploring alternative income sources, understanding the impact of the cost of living on services, and measuring impact.
Additionally, organisations have worked 1-1 with consultants to develop long-term revenue models, diversify income generation, and refine their mission and values.
During the sustainability workshop, participants emphasised that building sustainability involves both short-term preparation and long-term planning. Adaptability is crucial for readiness to embrace change.
Importantly, sustainability extends beyond financial stability to encompass people, organisational practices, engagement, and alignment with organisational vision and values.
Author: Megan Wong, Grants and Programme Manager, Pathways2Economic Opportunities
