Using an Appreciative Inquiry Framework: Bridging ‘what is’ to ‘what could be’
Dawn Hart and Sarah Frost
Comic Relief’s Rise and Shine programme funds organisations supporting early childhood development for vulnerable families in the UK and globally. Earlier this year, grantees came together for a day of reflection and learning, facilitated by Dartington Service Design Lab, the Learning Partner for the fund.
The goal of the learning event was to create a space where UK Rise and Shine grantees could reflect on what they’ve learnt to date, to inform their planning for the future as the funding programme nears its conclusion.
The Appreciate Inquiry Framework illustrated by inkythinking.com
We used an appreciative inquiry (AI) framework, a model based on what is good, strong and can be built upon. This assisted with guiding reflections and helping grantees to specifically identify what they had discovered through their work over the last couple of years, to dream about where they could take their work in the future and begin designing for future iterations of delivery.
In this blog, we share three highlights and reflections from these organisations as they now embark on supporting families through what will likely be a challenging winter.
Moving beyond the confines of the here-and-now
During the session, Rise and Shine grantees reflected on how there are a lot of powerful incentives for organisations to stay narrowly focused on the here-and-now: including meeting the rapidly evolving needs of families navigating crisis; or fulfilling grant-maker or commissioner reporting requirements.
Yet grantees reflected that if we are too focused only on the present, it may inhibit visions of what a different or better future might be. But it was also acknowledged that learning from the past and present can and should inform future plans, so we don’t make the same mistakes again or end up reinventing the wheel.
The take-away was that we need to both be grounded in the present and learn from this, but also let go and imagine what a radically different future could look like. The Appreciative Inquiry approach allowed Rise and Shine grantees to take that space and do both – look back and look forward. Through doing so, some of the dreams that emerged included:
That no-one has essential needs unmet
That the early years Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) are recognised – particularly by parliament
That every child has the permission to follow their dreams
That lived experience plays a greater role and is valued
That there’s no longer a need for the early years VCS altogether!
The power of peers
Learning Partner roles and learning events with grantees are a great way to create some time and space for future planning – but grantees reflected that the power of this comes not from fancy frameworks but from the diverse range of experiences and perspectives that different organisations bring.
“I’m taking away…the like mindedness of my colleagues in the wider sector and our collective power - so let’s harness and utilise it” …. Rise and Shine Grantee
Grantees sharing learning from each other’s experiences can expedite their own learning, generate new ideas and reinvigorate passions for social change.
From narrowly defined impact to the best roles played within a system
Grantees also reflected what it takes to reach big ambitious goals. Audacious aspirations and a healthy dose of reality are required to work torwards ambitous goals, such as Comic Relief’s vision of ‘a just world free from poverty’. In working towards such goals, grantees reflected on the need to shift from narrow thinking about the impact that they – as individuals, projects or organisations – can make, and shift attention towards considering the best role that they can play within the wider system of which we are a part. This great blog from Nick Stanhope explains more on the importance of taking a system-positioning approach.
“We [the voluntary sector] should be leading the way… push it rather than waiting for it to happen.”
- Rise and Shine Grantee
Similarly, grantees honestly reflected on the value but also inherent limitations of their work too. They recognized that if they and different partners within their local system work together and strategically align their goals and activities, only then can they reasonably be expected to make a marked difference in the early development of children – the key reason they were all brought together in the first place.
Looking forward by looking back
Our sessions left grantees with renewed energy to build these relationships, partnerships and collaborative endeavours which, if the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, is critical in facing a crisis. As we embark on what will inevitably be another incredibly challenging winter for many families, this collaboration will be key.
Illustrations produced by Inky Thinking.
This blog was written by the Rise and Shine learning coordinator team commissioned by Comic Relief. They are Dorothy Flatman, Dawn Hart and Sarah Frost.