These objects are the principles which guide the daily operations of Foundation Futures to ensure they fulfil their duties and obligations. However, the advisory board and staff team felt that, in order to achieve its potential, Foundation Futures needed to develop a Strategic Delivery Plan.
In the autumn of 2017, the staff team and members of the advisory board undertook a PEST and a SWOT analysis of the organisation and its external environment. This was undertaken because Foundation Futures required a change in strategic direction. There were many factors which led Foundation Futures to re-evaluate their strategic vision but the key driver was securing new premises within the Byker Wall Estate, Newcastle, in a former YMCA community hub.
The premises have the potential to support Foundation Futures in achieving their objects in new and exciting ways and a new strategic plan was identified as a way in which the staff team can focus their efforts in achieving their objects.
The following Strategic Objectives and Action Plan were achieved and devised over a number of strategic planning days and will provide guidance to Foundation Futures for the next three years.
Strategic Objectives
The Strategic Objectives that will guide Foundation Futures' direction from January 2018 to December 2020 are as follows:
#1
Improve mental health and wellbeing
#2
Reduce loneliness and isolation
#3
Increase employability and work readiness
#4
Improve physical health and wellbeing
#5
Develop confidence in maths and English
#6
Build financial literacy skills
#7
Increase access to IT
#8
Reduce anti-social behaviour
These objectives will help to secure the future of the organisation by providing a framework and an organisational direction that the staff can adhere to and which the advisory board can measure against, ensuring the organisation meets its desired outcomes. This will also prevent the organisation from becoming funding led - applying for funding just because it is there, regardless of how well it fits in with its objects – instead, providing an opportunity for Foundation Futures to be proactive and strong.
Action Plan
In order to achieve the organisation's newly developed strategic objectives, the staff and advisory board devised an action plan;
a set of activities which will allow the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives. The list of activities will be developed into a timeline (based on priorities as decided by the staff team and members of the community) and those responsible for securing funding for the organisation will apply for funding based on this timeline. In circumstances where a particular time-limited fund is made available for activities which are in the plan, this activity will be prioritised. Each strategic objective has the following actions:
1. Improve mental health and wellbeing
- Organise visits/trips outside of the community to broaden horizons
- Facilitate guest speakers from NHS/MIND/mental health charities
- Develop and maintain a youth group
- Create volunteering opportunities
2. Reduce loneliness and isolation
- Organise community lunches and tea/coffee mornings.
- Create community volunteering opportunities.
- Facilitate interest groups based on demand. e.g. Book Group, Craft Group.
- Develop intergenerational activities. Initiate a parent/Grandparent and toddler/baby group.
3. Increase employability and work readiness
- Organise trips to a range of employers.
- Offer qualifications based on community and employer demand.
- Facilitate CV writing and job application workshops.
- Create access to IT for job search.
4. Improve physical health and wellbeing
- Run sessions on planning, preparing and cooking healthy meals.
- Facilitate exercise and fitness activities.
- Organise guest speakers from sport, leisure and health organisations.
5. Develop confidence in Maths and English
- Offer functional skills qualifications to the community.
- Provide access to Maths and English IT software and tools.
- Develop community skills support groups based on need.
6. Build financial literacy skills
- Facilitate workshops on planning, preparing and cooking affordable community meals.
- Offer workshops on using price comparison and budgeting websites/apps.
- Provide budgeting and home management qualifications facilitate guest speakers from housing associations, charities, local authority, DWP and other support organisations.
7. Increase access to IT
- Develop a community IT hub.
- Offer IT workshops and qualifications.
8. Reduce anti-social behaviour
- Facilitate guest speakers.
- Develop a youth group.
- Create volunteering opportunities for younger people.
- Facilitate intergenerational activities.