Value creation & exchange
What value does the network create and for who? What are the products and services and benefits of joining? How does the value of the network grow and spread?
Supporting good practice & capacity development
How can peer networking support the development of good practice and build the skills of network members? What role does trust play in capacity building?
Business models for networks
What does a good business model look like for a network? How do you harness the value of the network? What are the costs of running a network?
Business models guide
How is business model for a peer network different? This short guide sets out the key things you need to consider when planning for sustainability.
Four networks, four business models
Here you’ll find four examples of network business models drawing funds from a variety of services: public funding, private sponsorship, selling services or certifications… Read on and be inspired by these brief case studies!
Community shares are interesting to networks because they could be used to raise capital for network activities. They can save local shops and pubs, finance renewable energy schemes, transform community facilities, support local food growing, fund new football clubs, restore heritage buildings, and above all, build stronger, more vibrant, and independent communities.
What makes a network sustainable?
Jane Wood from Business in the Community talks to us about building a sustainable network by listening to members, being clear on the unique value that your network brings and why, and importance of having a good balance between passion for the cause and commercial acumen.
Supporting innovation
How do you foster innovation? Is there an innovation process? What kills creativity?
Making good decisions can be critical when it comes to managing growth. Based on research into the development of previous social innovations, this toolkit will help you to make clear and confident group decisions about scaling up.
Growing networks case study workshop
These short case studies can help you explore the risks and benefits of growing and diversifying your network. Use them as a tool for individual reflection or group discussion.
How the SOUP movement has travelled the world
In network theory terms, there’s a stage of innovation referred to as scaling out. This stage occurs after inspiration, ideas, experiments and improvements, and it’s the final stage before the full-scale systemic change becomes possible. For an idea to get to this stage so quickly, and so independently, is remarkable.
How can change be achieved with a network?
Esther Foreman from the Social Change Agency talks to us about what you need to think about when campaigning, how you can manage the fast-paced nature of a campaign in a network and using the network to shift opinions and build power behind the change you want to see.
Campaigning, advocacy & systems change
How can understanding power help drive change? What makes a campaign winnable?
How can you unlock the power of a diverse network to campaign for change?
Laura Robertson from Contentious talks to us about uniting diverse perspectives and empowerment to build authentic, successful campaigns.
The Movement Building Canvas is a practical framework to help you, your team or your organisation design your movement for maximum impact. Tested with NGOs, community groups and start-ups, it can be used at any time to explore movement building ideas.
How peer support can help transform a network
Emily Jewell from Community Managed Libraries Peer Network talks to us about how they’ve used the resources and peer support through Unlocking Networks to review and analyse the impact of their network.
Lessons from Which? on building communities for change
How do Which?, the largest consumer membership body, engage with their membership? What is the driving force behind their active supporter base? Patrick Steen, Head of Supporter Strategy and Engagement runs us through Which?’s strategy for online engagement, audience segmentation and their website revamp.
NETWORKS TO EMPOWER ACTIVISTS
We spoke to Tim Gee from Friends of the Earth about how they use their network to campaign.