Key stages of collaboration

Voluntary and community sector organisations collaborate in many different ways. The benefits of successful collaboration include greater efficiency and use of resources, improved services, a stronger voice and influence and organisational sustainability. See more benefits and risks of collaboration.

Successful collaborative working does require investment of time and resources. Good preparation and an understanding of the processes involved will, no doubt, bring about a greater chance of success. 

1. Identify

Think carefully whether collaborative working is appropriate for your organisation. Be clear about your own goals and understand your strategic environment. This will help you in identifying and approaching your partners. See should you collaborate?

2. Plan

Work closely with your partners to develop your collaboration. Draw up shared aims, structures and agreements and develop positive relationships.

3. Implement

Manage the collaboration effectively with a strong action plan and communications plan. Prepare yourself for any possible frustrating times ahead by building in effective problem solving and understanding some of the key challenges that may arise.

4. Review

Review your collaborative experience and use what you've learned to prepare a forward strategy. 

• Locality's guidance on collaboration for commissioning 
• The Charity Commission's guidance on collaborative working and mergers
• The Improvement and Development Agency's information on cross-sector partnership working
• The Institute for Voluntary Action Research's publication: Getting ready for collaboration: Learning from experience
• The Guardian's round up of voluntary sector advice on charity mergers and collaborations (August 2011)
• GOV.UK's guidance on working with other charities
• The cutting edge partnerships blog