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Collaborative Working

New: Collaborative Working Conference 2008

Achieving together:
the practice and potential of collaborative working

NCVO’s third annual Collaborative Working Conference will present cutting edge thinking about the practice and potential of collaboration for civil society organisations.

There are opportunities to network, exchange ideas and experience with peers, and to attend an inspiring series of workshops on the following subjects:

Collaborative HR
Merger
Web 2.0 technologies and collaboration
Joint working for public service delivery
Associate charity models
Joint fundraising and project delivery

Date: Wednesday 22 October 2008
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
Venue: Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9BD

Information and booking

What is collaborative working?

Collaborative working within the voluntary and community sector - also known as joint or partnership working - covers a spectrum of ways that two or more organisations can work together. Options range from informal networks and alliances, through joint delivery of projects to full merger. Collaborative working can last for a fixed length of time or can form a permanent arrangement.

What these options have in common is that they involve some sort of exchange, for mutual advantage, that ultimately benefits end users.

"...all charities should consider seriously and imaginatively whether there are ways in which they could do more and better for their users by working together."
Charity Commission, Collaborative Working and Mergers (RS4) 2003

In recent years, interest in collaborative working has been growing, driven by the sector's drive for effectiveness and efficiency, government policy and public opinion.

Collaborative working: the wider picture

"Greater understanding of collaborative working will make the voluntary sector even more effective and improve services for beneficiaries."
Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief Executive

Collaborative Working Team

We offer good practice information and advice to help voluntary and community organisations make decisions about whether and how to work collaboratively. We aim to support informed decision-making and raise awareness of the range of collaborative working options, although we focus on more formal, long-term arrangements.

See our Frequently asked questions.