Case Study: Fairbridge

 

Situation

Fairbridge is a charity working with young people aged 13–25 that has been successfully developing the confidence, motivation and self-esteem of disengaged, marginalized young people for 20 years though a network of centres around the country.

Reaching around 3,700 young people annually the organization makes a big difference to young people. Yet with approximately 1.2 million young people at risk of chronic exclusion in the UK, the Chief Executive acknowledged that ‘‘Fairbridge was only scratching the surface.’’

Challenge

Fairbridge asked us to help its organization to:

  • Develop the central leadership team and centre leaders
  • Find ways to increase local funding so each centre becomes self-sustaining from within its community
  • Build effective working partnerships with businesses that deliver both funding and employment opportunities for young people
  • Develop the ongoing follow-up of young people beyond the initial intensive contact/activity programme

Solutions

We conducted extensive research, including one-to-one interviews with the central leadership team and centre leaders, and site visits to centres across the country and focus groups. Then we:

  • Created a leadership framework (with competencies and behaviours) based on Fairbridge values and our attitudinal leadership model
  • Collated the 360° feedback data and mapped each leader’s strengths and development needs onto the new framework
  • Carried out one-to-one sessions with each leader to share their individual framework data
  • Designed and delivered a 4-day transformational leadership training for centre leaders, focusing on:
    –    Enrolling centre managers into the new vision for the organization
    –    Addressing resistance and creating ownership
    –    Empowering leaders to challenge the prevailing attitudes and beliefs around funding
    –    Increasing capability to source local funding and become self-sustaining centres
    –    Providing practical skills for transforming attitudes and behaviours in self and others

Results

All centre managers participated in our leadership programme. Our leadership framework was embedded in Fairbridge and is used across the organization.

‘‘As a result of the course, I will be more purposeful: I will have more tools to reduce stress in myself and others, and tools to have more effective conversations to achieve productive internal and external partnerships.’’
— Centre Manager, Fairbridge