Wren and Greyhound resources
The Lasting Difference toolkit
The popular toolkit available as a free, writeable PDF from the Lasting Difference Website
Our Strategic Plan
Wren and Greyhound's strategic plan, restating our commitment to developing ourselves and our sector.
Buy the inspirational book here
Graeme wrote the book on non-profit sustainability - literally. Follow this link to purchase 'Making a Lasting Difference' from our friends at Flying Underground.
Interview series: 'Guided by the Stars'
Interviews with inspiring people doing innovative things. Recordings were made during the Covid crisis, so some of the videos suffered from having low bandwidth: for best quality please listen to or download the audio files.
Resilience, Learning and Partnership!
Shumela Ahmed, Managing Director of Resilience Learning Partnership, tells the uplifting story of 'Crafty Kids' survival boxes, an innovative response to Covid-19 providing families with free packs to inspire creativity and play.
Learning from evaluation
Steven Marwick, Director of Evaluation Support Scotland, shares positive tips for using evaluation for learning and improvement, addressing Covid-19 but also taking a broader look at organisational learning.
Diversity and sustainability
Khalida Hussain, Oral Health Community Challenge Fund Manager from Scottish Government's Dentistry Division, on how Challenge Funds unlock innovation, serve communities better and inform policy. A valuable example of a systems-level intervention of the kind described in the book 'Making a Lasting Difference'.
Creating Value Through Relationships
Professor Martin Christopher has been a leading thinker in marketing and supply chain management for over 30 years. Here he shares inspiring, provocative ideas relevant to charities, funders and commissioners:
The importance of relationships in procurement and commissioning; the role of suppliers in innovation; where competitive advantage comes from. And crucially, how to identify and manage high-value, high cost customers (i.e. most of your main funders!).
Voice, Power and Change
The value of learning and relationships in funding. Elaine Wilson, Head of Learning and Development at Corra Foundation, joined one of our workshops to reflect from a funder's perspective on: learning from communities and lived experience; The why and how of relationships between funders and funded organisations; exit strategies from funding; and sustainable impact. Elaine shares her own views but also examines wider trends in UK funding, anticipating what might lie ahead in a post-pandemic world.
Creativity, sustainability and the power of metaphor
Dr John Miers is an expert in how meaning is conveyed through visual motifs and metaphors. It's why we asked him to provide our core graphics and icons many years ago! In this conversation, we explore the meaning behind some of the main images we use. John also draws interesting parallels between the creative process and third sector funding, commissioning and sustainability.
Sustainability (see more at the www.TheLastingDifference.com)
Beyond Survival
The sustainability guide we produced with and for survivor-support organisations. Includes outcome framework, evaluation ideas, cost benefit analysis tools and case studies.
Short Breaks for the Long Term
This guide was developed with Shared Care Scotland to help short break providers become more sustainable. But it will be relevant to others too, as it features valuable resources for sustaining organisations, projects and impact.
Sustaining self-directed support
Sharing learning from a wonderfully engaging 10-workshop programme we ran on behalf of Scottish Government for 50+ independent support organisations.
Leadership
Lasting Leadership - succession, empowerment, equality
Our special new guide to sustainable leadership. Clear principles and straightforward practices with comprehesive guidance on succession planning; lateral leadership; next generation leadership; self-care; and leadership as a feminist and equalities issue.
W&G leadership retreat 2015 - 'Unplugged'
A summary of the themes explored and learning generated during the 'Unplugged' leadership retreat in June 2015. Topics include coping with uncertainty; sustainability; relationships and getting your 'oomph' back! Lots of practical tips, resources and links to explore.
W&G Leadership retreat 2017 - 'Time & Space'
The notes from our second biennial leadership retreat, on the theme of 'time and space': How to make imperfect things happen; know your limits; step into who you want to be and manage relationships. Watch the companion video via our News page or YouTube channel.
W&G Leadership retreat 2019 - 'Leadership for a Lasting Difference'
The notes from our third leadership retreat on the theme of sustainable leadership, with an emphasis on feminism, succession planning and future leadership.
Strategy - example strategic plans
LGBT Youth Scotland Strategic Plan
Informed by 'Lasting Difference' principles, this is a fresh example of the visually appealing strategic plans we are often asked to help develop.
Scottish Environment LINK
A very significant strategy, one we are genuinely humbled to have played a part in developing.
Dyslexia Scotland Summary Strategic Plan
A short, visual strategic plan developed using creative and participatory processes.
Multi-agency programme resources and reports
Thematic programme outputs, reports and resources
These resources can now be found in our Thematic Programmes page.
Consultation and involvement
Short Break Fund Consultation Toolkit
A simple and creative set of tools for involving people in planning and reviewing services. Designed for carers, but suitable for most settings.
Equal, Expert and Valued - Update report
The 2019 update of the Carers Collaborative report on carer involvement in health and social care.
People Active for Change and Equality
An example of our approach to research and evaluation, this baseline report led to the Scotland's Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport.