Champion of Impact Practice Announced

EJ Havlin is responsible for the Age NI - ‘Steps to Funding’ programme which was devised to address the low capacity and low numbers of age sector groups accessing funding opportunities.  Through delivery of a series of workshops and development of complementary resources, the programme has enabled over £320,000 to be accessed by small groups for the benefit older people plus the important skills which will sustain these services.  A range of resources have been developed including a monthly Age Sector Funding Ezine, The Steps to Jargon Busting guide and The Steps to Measuring Impact.

The award was designed to acknowledge a Third Sector leader who has worked within their organisation to implement impact practice and enable their organisation to promote and embed an impact focused approach.

EJ is committed to proving and celebrating the difference the work of Age NI makes to the lives of older people across N.Ireland.

She believes in transparency and accountability to funders and more importantly, her clients, and knows sharing the impact they make helps to attract funding, as well as motivating volunteers and staff.

EJ said: “Championing Impact provides a great opportunity to showcase your achievements, shouting about what you’ve done, celebrate success and what a difference it has made to someone’s life.

“In my daily work, I am trying to support people to independently access funding to enable them to deliver services or activities which older people want in their area.

“This is often less than £1000 to cover annual insurance and rental to host a club but the process of building confidence and experience to access that funding is the same as if it was £10,000.

“Part of that process requires impact and proving your worth.  I’m happy to practice what I preach, showcasing my work to build the case for evidencing and demonstrating change”.

EJ has been working to ensure there is clear evidence of the difference her work does utilising a range of tools and methods.  Being realistic and flexible has enabled her to deal with the challenge of limited capacity and resources.

Demonstrating impact has been tackled in a number of ways ranging from online self-assessment  ‘Measuring Up!’ to maximising the opportunity of visual summaries of info graphics.  There are no ‘box-ticking’ exercises and any short-comings identified are devised a plan for positive action.

Championing Impact has focused on practical implementation through clear relevant case studies and easily understood and transferable examples.

EJ has laid-open her own work for observation and scrutiny.  She has encouraged others to review her practice and develop their own.

Through supporting people through a process of translating the terminology, and clarifying the range of possible processes to capture impact and encouraging the benefits, a range of models which demonstrate implementation are being used to lead impact practice in the age sector.

More information on all of EJ and Age NI’s work in impact practice can be found here.

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