Magpie Meets is a unique exchange programme which exists to fulfil Magpie’s volunteering time and professional development needs through exchanges with a diverse range of change-making organisations.
Participants of the programme are invited to join Magpie to solve a behaviour change communications challenge using behavioural science, creativity and collaboration. The process involves an in-depth briefing, a cultural immersion activity and an exchange workshop which encourages Magpie to transfer knowledge, understand change-making leadership at multiple levels and bring creative and academic practices to problem solving.
Between January and February, Magpie worked with Women’s Health Matters, a Leeds based charity that exists to support women and girls to live safe and healthy lives. Since 1987, the organisation has provided holistic, trauma-informed services for women and girls who are socially, economically, or politically marginalised. This includes, but is not limited to, those affected by domestic abuse, those whose children live elsewhere, those accessing maternity services, women seeking asylum, women with disabilities, and women and their children experiencing trauma.
Last year, the charity worked with 2517 women & girls across 27 projects. Provided intensive support to 1214 women & girls, lighter touch support to 1303 women & girls, and supported 303 children. They delivered 869 group sessions and 1728 one-to-one sessions.
The team are a positive force in Leeds and Yorkshire, they work tirelessly to increase confidence, wellbeing and provide transformational support. For a relatively small team, their impact is huge. Access to more funding and new partnerships are vital to their work so do get in touch if you can offer your support.
Magpie Meets brief
CEO, Rachel Kelly, set Magpie the following creative behaviour change challenge:
How, in a time-poor and resource-stretched organisation, can we grow our reputation?
Following this, a behaviour change exchange programme was designed to co-create an approach for cultural change with those responsible for delivery, resulting in a behaviour change communications blueprint and journey map to guide the organisation on this programme of work.
Meeting the team
‘Magpie Meets… Women’s Health Matters’ began with an initial immersion session to understand the challenge from different perspectives and to dig deeper. During this seesion, Magpie was able to gain a more rounded understanding of Women’s Health Matters vision for change and understand the practicalities of the challenge.
For every Magpie Meets programme, a hand-picked project team is selected with relevant skills matched to the challenge set by the beneficiary. The team for this exchange included Co-founder Ged Savva, Campaign Consultant – Louise Hallworth and Researcher – Mierla Neto.
Exchange day
In January, the Magpie Meets project team arrived at Women’s Health Matters HQ in Leeds for a visionary day of co-creation.
In attendance were five representatives from across the charity, each representing different areas of the organisation. The passion and belief alignment of the team at Women’s Health Matters was truly awe-inspiring, it was clear the vision and mission of the organisation was being lived and realised by all.
It was delightful to connect with Women’s Health Matters at Magpie Meets, delving into behavioural change techniques and communication strategies for purposeful actions and fostering a reputation reflecting meaningful change. Huge thank you to the inspiring women at Women’s Health Matters for sharing their passion and expertise with us.
Mirela Neto, Magpie Researcher
The primary resource was the ‘co-creation canvas’ which would act as a one-page strategy for taking the desired change forward beyond the session, enabling the team to focus the outcomes of the sessions as well as actionable phases of work.
Outcome
Together, Magpie and Women’s Health Matters defined the behavioural outcomes the charity aims to achieve through their project.
12 possible outcomes were explored and whittled down to one clear behaviour and culture shift change goal. This is:
Making space for proactive thinking to help grow reputation and increase funds.
Using a COM-B analysis for the challenge, we uncovered the capabilities, opportunities and motivations for change. The most prominent barriers for this culture shift included:
- Lack of awareness around the possibility of proactive thinking time
- Finding time in a busy schedule
- Having inspiration to make thinking time possible and effective
The most prominent facilitators for this culture shift included:
- The importance of framing – how it is positioned and communicated
- Making the solution flexible to fit around individual roles
- Creating a framework to guide and inspire a culture shift
The sessions resulted in a blueprint strategic approach, giving the organisation focus and an outline plan for taking change forward. This included three potential frameworks for change including an open framework, a cumulative change framework and a more creative framework to align with the creative and tenacious culture at Women’s Health Matters.
I will take away how on the same page we are. That is a rewarding outcome from this session.
Hannah
Understanding that steppingstones can work. It doesn’t need to be everything right away. Small changes can take us to a better place.
Eleanor
It’s rewarding to have space and time for ideas.
Lydia
I’m really excited and inspired to action these ideas.
Molly
The time to do this together as a team is my takeaway.
Rachel
Next steps
A creative behaviour change report has been provided to Women’s Health Matters and a follow-up consultation is taking place in March to further the organisation with advice around the practicalities of adopting the recommendations.
Interested?
Magpie is currently planning the calendar of Magpie Meets activity. If you would like to be considered as a beneficiary for our next Magpie Meets programme, please get in touch and a member of the Magpie team will be in contact.