Partnership working: Lessons from the third sector in Wales

Partnership working is now commonplace across the third sector in Wales. The National Lottery Community Fund (The Fund) actively promotes partnership working through its funding where it is sensible to do so, and this collaboration often makes the greatest positive impact on communities. Three of The Fund’s current programmes required partnerships to apply for funding: Mind Our Future, Helping End Homelessness, and Sustainable Steps: Green Careers.

Partnership working inevitably brings with it some challenges and barriers. The Fund commissioned The Funding Centre to research the impact of partnership working. Using 121 survey responses and 37 interviews with grant holders, key stakeholders, and third sector organisations, The Fund has been able to get a better understanding of the attitudes and behaviours associated with partnership working. This includes what success looks like within partnerships and how common challenges can be addressed – and lessons for funders, too. The Fund is using this research to inform the support and advice offered to organisations on partnership working to help them make the greatest impact possible.

This summary report captures the headline findings from the research.

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