Do partnerships really work? We have tried a few with voluntary sector agencies, but in all honesty have stuggled with the differring working practises and organisational cultures which can lead to confused staff, watered down services and most importantly - unhappy service users. I am often confused myself at the expectation that there are "equal partners" in any joint funding bid. One will always benefit more than the other. If you are in a partnership at the moment, can you truly say you will do further bids with the same partners when new funding pots are announced?
Are mergers the way forward? Well if the big banks and larger corporations can do it, why not smaller charities? What are the benefits and dangers of mergers? Again, is there a single winner out of 2 merging bodies? I think in today's financial climate, mergers are a way forward, as long as the main beneficiary is Jo Public! Those who know me are very aware of my "big fish swimming in my little pond" saying. Over the last few years i have seen bigger fish venturing into our regional pond. It has since been our vision at The Disability Syndicate to bring groups together to frighten them off leaving local services run by local people. Some groups are quite positive about this, some aren't!
Some smaller groups see The Disability Syndicate as a big fish - there's a blog for another day!
Agree? Don't Agree?
Amo
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