Skip navigation.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Open Space - participator feedback

Here is the feedback from the first open space meeting that I thought you would find interesting:

  • "Its been really interesting to hear people's views from all parts of the organisation"
  • "This has been a really interesting format, really well done"
  • "I really enjoyed the discussions ranging from big wide philosophy to tiny detail from all different parts of the Network to inform decision makers and where to go from here"
  • "All that needed to be said has been said today"
  • "Its been really important what we have talked about today"
  • "Its been really excellent - brilliant"
  • "Meeting people from the Network and nationally has been really good"
  • "It's been very interesting as a young person and an American. You have been talking about how to use resources in a country the size of my state!"
  • "Its been really interesting to listen, the range of discussions and to be able to move around"
  • "Really interesting to talk about different levels, structures and systems and in the last group we also had a personal conversation that will stay with me."
  • "The format with no constraints, no preset agenda was really good to get out ideas"
  • "Its been interesting and informative"
  • "Interesting day and good to set our own agenda , a really interesting way of doing things"
  • "A good format, as an older person I could contribute and it seemed that lessons learnt a long time ago are coming around again"
  • "What next that's what I am interested in"
  • "As an outsider its been good to be invited and to take an interest in Brook"
  • "Great to meet everyone and to find out what other centres are doing and to know we are all passionate about the same things no matter where we are from"
  • "Its been a really good day"
  • "In 2019 I will have retired and be drinking wine on my veranda, wondering if Brook have done all we have talked about today - if they have I will raise my glass to Brook having achieved all this!!"
  • "From my perspective its been good, to listen and take part in this really useful day"
  • "It's been a really good day - thanks. Good to find out about Brook"

I look forward to the next Open Space meeting which takes place on Thursday 21 May at the City of Manchester Stadium - please email for further information if you would like to attend.

Posted by on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 01:08 PM
The future of Brook • (4 comments) Post a comment • Permalink

Monday, April 27, 2009

First Open Space meeting

Last Friday we held the first of the two Open Space meetings that are contributing to the review of the organisational design and governance structure. It was a fantastically inspiring event, and I was really interested to hear the range of things that people want us to get right, to carry on doing, to think about, to change and to understand as part of the review process. Some things are underway already - for example, people at the event want us to sort out the website once and for all, so all Centres have their own pages and Brook has one corporate website. This work has already started and we will be launching the new site later in the summer.

This is just one area that people want us to address and other things will take more time. Like how we make sure we have good quality, consistent staff recruitment, training, development, retention and career pathways so that we make sure Brook makes the most of its precious and valuable staff resource, or how we develop a cross-network IT strategy that facilitates positive communication for the whole of Brook.

You won't be surprised to know that the vital issue of young people's involvement in decision making at Brook was a hot topic of conversation and we also talked about how people with learning disabilities are involved, how Brook can lead a change in the funny culture we have about young people and sexuality, how we can make the HPV Vaccine available, how we improve our communication to different stakeholders so we have greater influence and impact, and the different roles we all have across the Network in leading for change.

This doesn't even begin to capture the diversity of issues that people discussed, all of which will be captured in a report of the event. The event generated so much brilliant material that it has led to me to the question that I want to ask staff, volunteers, trustees and other stakeholders:

What is the one most important message that you want me to hear about any area of the organisation that Brook must address if we are to enable more young people to enjoy their sexuality without harm?

Email me at with your thoughts and I will respond directly. Or comment on the blog and start a conversation.

I am really looking forward to the Open Space meeting in Manchester on May 21st and hope to see you there.

Posted by on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 04:10 PM
The future of Brook • (2 comments) Post a comment • Permalink

Friday, April 03, 2009

Welcome to the Bigger, Bolder, Better blog!

Brook has launched a review of our organisational design and governance structure and this blog is part of that. It's a place for you to register your thoughts and comments, as well as keeping up to date with progress. We're really keen to hear how people feel about the process and what you'd like to see happen to make the organisation Bigger, Bolder and Better. For more information on what's happening, check out the webpages at www.brook.org.uk/review

I am going to use this blog to keep anyone interested in the review up to date with the review between now and when the review is complete at the end of this year. If you have any questions or comments you can either email me at and I will answer personally. So join in, and if you have comments and thoughts, be sure to leave them on this blog.
Posted by on Friday, April 03, 2009 at 02:40 PM
The future of Brook • (4 comments) Post a comment • Permalink
Page 1 of 1 pages