Client

The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP)

Project: The Giving Lab

Background

The Giving Lab, a four-year pilot program by TSIP, aimed to revolutionize grantmaking by putting power directly in the hands of the Southwark community. Through a participatory approach, residents identified and addressed local needs. TSIP sought to effectively communicate the learnings from this innovative model to decision-makers within the funding landscape and amplify the voices of the Southwark community.

Challenge

• Disseminate complex learnings from The Giving Lab in a way that resonates with a decision-making audience.
• Ensure the Southwark community’s experiences and insights were central to the communication strategy.

Community Engagement

• Purpose Deck: “Reaching the Connectors: How to build trust within a community” provided a clear roadmap for fostering trust within communities.
• Practical guides like “How to Build a Community-Led Fund” and “How to Deliver a Community-Led Fund” equipped funders with actionable strategies.

Public Engagement in Health Research

Social media assets and a dedicated section within the Learning and Impact webpage facilitated public engagement with health research initiatives.

Piloting and Funding Process

Impact Reports and Funders Reports offered a transparent view of the pilot’s impact and funding journey.

Evaluation and Learning

Content like “Trying Harder – How to involve and engage communities that are seldom heard” and “Community and Creativity – Moving towards equity and away from us vs them” delved into the complexities of building genuine community partnerships.

Engaging User Journey

The communication strategy prioritized multiple entry points to cater to diverse learning styles and preferences. Target audiences, including funders, potential partners, and community members, could access information through:

• Giving Lab webpage: Hosted downloadable guides, photo essays, and community reporter articles.
• Social media: Engaged audiences through regular posts and content updates.
• Roundtable discussions: Facilitated online interactions and knowledge exchange.
• Blog posts: Provided deeper dives into specific learnings from The Giving Lab.

Community Storytelling

The project prioritized amplifying the Southwark community’s voice. Insights and stories from interviews were woven into all communication materials, ensuring a human touch and democratizing knowledge. This shift in power dynamics gave ownership to the community and resonated strongly with the target audience.

Outcomes

This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of a multi-faceted communication approach in disseminating complex learnings from a participatory grantmaking model. By centering the Southwark community’s voice and providing clear, actionable resources, The Giving Lab’s impact transcended the pilot program, influencing future approaches to funding and community engagement.