Back in 2024, we set out to recruit our first multi-generational panel of advisers for the Regional Programme.
Why?
This Blagrave funding programme, which has been running for more than 10 years, supports youth charities in the South East of England and distributed around £1.2m per year to outstanding youth organisations.
Instead of making decisions from Blagrave HQ we recruited 8 extraordinary people from the youth sector we support.
The panel was deliberately multi-generational as it included those that benefit from, work in, and lead the South East youth charities we serve. We wanted those with experience of what it takes to be an exceptional youth organisation. Our hope was that they would help us make better informed decisions.
We had no idea of the massive ripple effect of all the other positive outcomes that would result.
What we learned
- Individual empowerment: Our advisers were valued equally for their lived, learned, and practised experiences. For some, this was the first time their expertise had been valued (and fairly paid), and some told us that their experience would provide their gold standard for how they wanted to be held and valued as future employees. [I’m most proud of] “myself, for being able to contribute meaningfully” “[the] Teamwork and respect it built, holding different expertise and views but all working to make decisions for young people”. Several advisers told us the experience made them feel differently about the contribution they wanted to make in the world, following the experience. About what they can offer, and what they can expect.
- Impact on applicants: Our advisers “had time to read the papers – not Trustees!” They took time to share thoughts and feedback on applications, both positive and negative, which made a difference to applicants who felt valued and seen. And for those who were successful, “There’s a whole group of people who know what they’re talking about saying “we believe in you”
- Sector impact: Despite changes in recent years, and initiatives such as IVAR’s Trusting Grant makers standards, local funders and commissioners still need to change. “We built momentum around standards of funders (feeling valued, genuine feedback and timely response) – slowly raising standards”
What it took
All Blagrave advisers work on a contract length of at least 12 months, are paid, and benefit from a comprehensive induction, time for the group to form, and space for reflection and learning. Our investment in this year’s adviser programme cost around £10,000 in direct costs and programme support, with each adviser budgeted for around 100 hours in the year (around 8 hours a month). Reading and preparation time and a comprehensive induction were included. But the investment brought huge results and directly contributed towards our mission, to put power in the hands of those we seek to serve. It was worth every penny.
“I know that the Blagrave Trust put in a lot of hard work into building this regional advisers programme. I believe that many organisations and grant makers could learn from this work.”
“The experience of being a regional adviser has been one of the best professional experiences I have had in years. It was so good to be part of a diverse and broad range of people with lived experience and professional experience…..being part of something very cohesive and having impact to those organisations that we have helped fund.”
Thank you to our panel of 8 regional advisers, Helen, Karen, Megan, Alec, Gray, Zamy, Eli, Louise, and our independent facilitator, Katherine Perrin.
For more information about how we managed and resourced the regional advisers programme, please contact Tessa Hibbert on Tessa.hibbert@blagravetrust.org