Reaching People approach and principles
Reaching People brings together charities, social enterprises and other key partners across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We believe that by working collaboratively we can:
• Be a stronger sector through mutual support and shared learning & expertise.
• Be more effective by working creatively and collaboratively not competitively.
• Achieve a greater strategic impact.
Continuity and commitment
Meeting complex needs takes time. We helped facilitate one man’s journey, a three-year-journey from rough sleeping to operating his own building trade business. It could easily take longer. The organisations in our network are established, sometimes for decades, their strengths well known throughout the sector. So we are able to co-ordinate services to be available exactly when they are needed. We can maintain contact with clients at times when project funding has ended.
Current Reaching People activities and benefits
• Networking and development opportunities through our Trustee network and CEO forum.
• Access to our Leadership programme with courses for those new to the sector, volunteers, Community Connectors and Aspiring Leaders.
• Partnership projects such as the highly successful, Moneywise Plus.
• Opportunities for engagement with key stakeholders such as the LLEP, local authorities, the NHS Integrated Care Board, the National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Centre for Social Justice.
• Support for individuals through our digital inclusion projects such as laptops, tablets and phones (Refurb IT) or support to access primary care and NHS information (Health Plus)
• Access to the Leicester VCSE sector impact data. it.
Communication and shared systems
All our organisations delivering on our Moneywise Plus project use the same customer relationship management system. That alone has made a massive difference to our ability to co-ordinate our services, avoid duplication and be there when people need us most. Our members share in many other ways, through joint ventures and supportive local meetings. Ours is the opposite of silo-working, where we manage and facilitate provision across independent member organisations.
Specialist services with shared standards and values
Any organisation that is part of Reaching People has to meet the same high standards in policies and practice. We arrange member organisation training on anything from safeguarding or data protection to quality management. While the standards are common, we are also widely diverse in our specialist services. If the most appropriate key worker for a client is one with experience and understanding of drug and alcohol, domestic violence, mental health or offending issues, we will be able to allocate one.