This article was first published in eMessenger in September 2018.
“It’s said that a wise person learns from his mistakes. A wiser one learns from others’ mistakes. But the wisest person of all learns from others’ successes.” John C Maxwell
At the Methodist Alliance forum it was agreed to create communities of practice to achieve the strategic priorities of: 1. Safe and secure housing 2. Strong resilient tamariki/children and families/whānau 3. Building stronger communities – including reducing social isolation for older people 4. Working towards a bi-cultural future for Aotearoa/New Zealand
A community of practice is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Communities of practice are informal, self-organising, and span across the membership of the Methodist Alliance. They provide the opportunity and structure that allows Methodist Alliance members to promote best practice and build common capability in various areas across the Methodist Alliance.
A community of practice is a group of people:
with a common interest
with a common goal of improving
who share experiences
The objectives of the Communities of Practice will vary over time, but will include:
To identify, gather, and seek agreement on the needs of our local communities in relation to the specific community of practice
To provide a forum for the cooperation of activities where this adds value to existing initiatives
To identify links and opportunities for collaborative strategic projects and to coordinate the delivery of projects
To report on progress and provide updates of relevant projects and programmes;
To advise other Methodist Alliance members and the Steering Group on matters relating to the communities of practice
To provide an informal point of contact for members and their staff on the specific benefit or interest area that affects the communities of practice.
Communities of practice are the practice of being Connexional in the social service space. Some relevant statistics from our annual report relating to these communities of practice:
BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES · 8 Neighbours Day Aotearoa events · 1898 older people supported · 200 older people provided with residential care · 372 drop in & hospitality events HOUSING · 42 new houses built · 527 people housed
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
· 4301 families supported
· 81 youth events
· 337 parenting programmes
· 60 children provided with foster care
· 228 children enrolled in ECE
· 280 children enrolled in a children’s programme
· 20 programmes in schools
Thanks to a PAC grant this work is getting underway with first meetings of our communities of practice scheduled for September.
If you are a Methodist Alliance member and want to join one of these communities of practice, please contact me.
Carol Barron, Methodist Alliance National Coordinator, Carol@MethodistAlliance.org.nz
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