VIRTUAL REALITY abluecup / iStock
Humankind ’ s senior management team have recently harnessed online technology to deliver a virtual residency for two days . In previous years , the residency has been held at a central location to plan the way forward . Obviously we couldn ’ t meet up physically this year , but as this event is critical to the ongoing success of the charity , we decided to hold it online .
Strategic planning took a different format this year but was just as effective , says Liane Taylor
Our organisation believes that holding a senior management away day is beneficial for three reasons . Firstly , it ’ s important for leaders to build time into their schedule to reflect , think and plan as a group . Secondly , to ensure quality and impactful services are delivered successfully , leaders need time to discuss and debate proposals to ensure we choose the best way forward . Finally , by getting away from the office , management have the time and space to enable innovation to flourish , which is essential for future success .
We use the residency as a time to reflect on the last year and discuss , debate and agree on how to provide better , more impactful services in the future .
Using online software to facilitate learning , team members held conferences and smaller break-out groups to discuss topics including strategic vision , service integration and how to embed the use of digital technologies across service areas . Equality , diversity and inclusion were central themes and the group explored how Humankind can embed these principles in all areas of work .
Over the two days , we had time to reflect on what a massive year this has been for everyone and to acknowledge our talented , creative and hard-working staff teams who have supported the people who use our services to achieve so many things , all during the extremely challenging backdrop of a global pandemic .
I came away with a renewed sense of energy and purpose and excitement for what is to come for Humankind . I ’ m looking forward to working out how we share this further during our workforce roadshows coming up in April and for away days for teams right across the organisation .
Liane Taylor is lead director of integration , housing and strategy at Humankind
A QUESTION OF SUPPORT
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began compiling quizzes to help ease loneliness and to afford people using the service some lighter moments during lockdown , and have prepared more than 300 in the last 12 months .
With all the changes we ’ ve had to make to service delivery and the fact we knew isolation was a big issue for people over the past year , we started doing lunchtime social sessions . They are basically an hour where our members can log onto the Zoom session , take part in the quiz and have a chat .
Richard Snaith ’ s enthusiasm for online quizzes has kept service users from loneliness in lockdown
‘ I ’ ve learnt so much about people that use our service and I ’ ve been able to be there for them on both the good and the bad days .’
It was tricky at the start to organise quizzes as most people had not heard of Zoom . So for the first couple of months it was all about working with people to set it up and them knowing how to use it .
It ’ s been a gentle way to introduce people to new technology – I know some participants now hold Zoom sessions with their family after they have learnt how to do it from our lunchtime sessions .
Holding and organising these quiz sessions has been amazing , insightful and a privilege . I ’ ve learnt so much about people that use our service , and I ’ ve been able to be there for them on both the good and the bad days .
From the start I set out to make the quizzes fun and inclusive – it ’ s all too easy to just make the hardest quiz in the world and no one enjoys them . There have been plenty of amusing incidents – we ’ ve worn masks and hats , and we even have singing rounds . We also had a dancing round before Christmas where people got extra points if they could show the group their dance moves .
While hoping the restrictions on people ’ s movement will soon end , I ’ m determined to continue . So many people have benefitted from these events it would be a shame to stop now – I just need to keep coming up with the questions !
Richard Snaith is an early intervention and prevention worker at Humankind
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