Friday, May 22, 2009

Second Open Space meeting

Yesterday was the second Open Space meeting in Manchester - there was a fantastically diverse group of people, including lots of young people, clinical and outreach staff, reception workers, supporters and stakeholders as well as managers.

As with the Open Space meeting in London the passion and creativity of everyone involved led to interesting, fascinating ideas, experiences and thinking which will help inform the future organisational design and governance structure. In closing the day I reflected on how only 5 hours before it would have been hard to imagine we could create the agenda, organise ourselves, type up our discussions and vote on our top priorities. The report totals 42 pages of ideas, discussion points and recommendations.

I was privileged enough to be part of discussions where people reflected proudly on what they do well, and our strengths, as well as having tremendous insights into areas we can still get better at. It is that pride into what we do well and insight and awareness of what we must get better at that gives Brook the integrity I am so proud of.

There were many similarities and common themes as in London with top priorities being helping young people address peer pressure; focusing on staff recruitment, retention and training, ensuring education has a high priority and focusing on maintaining and improving quality standards in all of our work.

Two other common themes were;

• ensuring that all young people including gay, lesbian and bisexual young people, young disabled people and those from black and minority ethnic communities are involved in all of our work.
• really thinking about social norms in relation to young people and sex - addressing sexual pleasure in all of our work and setting high expectations for them in relation to sex so they expect a lot from their relationships and sex when they choose it as well as having confidence and pride in themselves and bodies.

Thank you to everyone who participated in both the Open Space meetings. Please do complete the short online survey - the link is in the previous blog and watch this space for further information. Finally thanks once again for the comments you have sent to - please keep them coming.