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Tame the octopus: idea screening and selection
We've always said the way to cope with the sustainability paradoxes is to screen new ideas. But we've not shared a 'Lasting Difference' way to do this. Until now. Our straightforward new idea screening tool helps you assess new initiatives with long term...
Shine a Light – system capacity and leadership
The systems you are part of are unsustainable. Change is needed. But your role relates to just one part of system, so how do you lead the way? You shine a light, with our new guide to system capacity and leadership. It's a practical guide for people interested...
Guided by the Stars – our strategy for the future
We've been working on this one since spring but are finally ready to share! Our new strategy is out now and available for download below. This post contains everything else we couldn't fit into the two-page summary! Download the strategy here. What's happening and...
Volunteering the sustainable way.
We’re delighted to award the Lasting Difference Symbol to Larkhall and District Volunteer Group (LDVG). The group deliver activities and services which promote the wellbeing of the 55+ community in South Lanarkshire. When lockdown happened in 2020, like most...
Learned helpfulness
Two years of responding to trauma has become a learned behaviour. Overwhelmed by circumstances and events beyond our control, we stop looking for ways out or recognising help when it comes along. 'Learned helplessness' is when we start losing the capacity to engage,...
Elearning double bill!
This autumn provides the perfect opportunity to take a deep dive into The Lasting Difference toolkit with an elearning double bill. We're opening up enrolments to our established Practices and Principles course along with our brand new course, The Five Capabilities....
Feeling summary?
Everyone is busy. But no-one is too busy for our quick read summaries! We began adding 50 word executive summaries to our guides a while ago. We know people are busy and don't always have the time to work through a 50 page guide. Even when they know it will create...
Annual Lasting Leadership programme open for applications
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We are inviting applications for our next Lasting Leadership action learning programme. The programme is aimed at people who want to explore and develop sustainable leadership capacity in their organisation. Previous participants...
Lasting Leadership: Equalities
The Lasting Leadership guide to sustainable charity leadership is now complete! Today we're publishing part four of the series, Lasting Leadership: Equalities. You can download the guide here, updated from the original guide following two years of further research,...
Befriending Networks receive the Symbol!
Congratulations to Befriending Networks for becoming our latest Lasting Difference Symbol Holder. As a UK-wide intermediary organisation, supporting befriending services and projects, they face the challenge of sustaining income across each part of the country. They...
Grampian champions system change!
There's something happening in Grampian. Long established systems and structures are being changed. Charities and public sector organisations are leading system change by championing community voices and challenging the traditional ways of doing things. These two...
System capacity and leadership
Wherever you work, you’re part of a wider ecosystem. It’s made up of other people, communities, partners, funders and policy makers. You probably think that things would be better if that system would only change. And whether you work in social care, education,...
Self-care guide out now!
Sustainable leaders look after themselves and the people around them. If our people and organisations don’t take care of themselves, they can't do their best work for the people, communities and issues they serve. Our new guide takes a fresh approach to sustaining...
Feedback please
Our Lasting Difference Symbol recognises organisations’ commitment to sustainability and gives us a chance to bring people together to share practice. We think we have a special relationship with our 14 current Symbol Holders. If they’re looking for a bit of support,...
Succession Planning – update out now!
Succession planning and knowledge management When we started researching sustainable leadership, one thing quickly became clear. Everyone we spoke to had been affected by the sudden loss or departure of a leader. It's a case of when you need to plan for succession,...
Buy in – or ownership?
Organisational leaders dream of everyone 'buying into' their plans. Wouldn't it be nice if your colleagues just assumed responsibility and accountability, without being told? But what does it mean in practice? Are you really ready for it? It took me two years to find...
Wish you were here
Our popular postcards are back! The set of 20 original postcards has all but sold out, but they're been so popular over the years that we're now releasing them in a colourful new edition. There are now 40 redesigned postcards, with 20 new provocations and some updated...
Board succession
Succession is inevitable. Success isn’t. In the last year we’ve all been reminded that it’s not a case of whether you need a succession plan, but when. Successful successions are possible if they are planned early and managed senstively, as this case study from...
Sustainable governance
New sustainable governance guide published Effective, sustainable boards regularly review their performance, skills and composition. We’ve just published our Sustainable Governance resource to help you do just that. It’s a customisable self-assessment, drawing on...
Camphill join our symbol holder membership
Camphill School Aberdeen have become our latest Lasting Difference Symbol holder, recognising their commitment to organisational sustainability. This forms part of a wider piece of work for the team as they also review their role in environmental sustainability,...
Lasting Difference by name…
We're delighted to announce we've now begun formally trading as 'The Lasting Difference consultancy'! The move puts our identity and resources squarely behind our core purpose - and flagship publications. Initially in 2016, the Lasting Difference was just the name of...
Save the date – system capacity, 3rd November
Understanding system capacity Nov 2021 Our next practice sharing session for Lasting Difference partners and symbol holders will take place online on 3rd November. The theme will be system capacity, something several of our recent research respondents suggested we...
Our survey says…
This summer we revisited our 2017 research about the ways people use Lasting Difference resources. Once again, a great response and lots of learning! 53 people shared views in an online survey, and 16 one-to-one interviews took place. We’ll publish the full report...
Effectiveness in international development
Scotland’s International Development Alliance were our first partners in online learning, reaching their members from all over the globe in 2018. Things have developed rapidly in the sector since then, and even more so since their Effectiveness Toolkit was created in...
Future Pathways show their sustainable approach
Congratulations to our latest Lasting Difference Symbol holders, Future Pathways, a national service who support people who experienced childhood abuse or neglect in Scotland. The team have put sustainability at the heart of what they do, creating a quality assurance...
Victors of our own success
Update from Graeme Reekie and the Wren and Greyhound directors. This is the hardest blog I’ve had to write, even though I’ve known for a few weeks that it’s been coming. In short, there’s been so much demand for our work since the start of this financial year that...
Our Latest Symbol Recipient is Building Capacity in North Lanarkshire
Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) provide support to their local voluntary and community sector. They are looking to further build capacity of voluntary organisations they support by using the Lasting Difference toolkit to collaboratively explore...
Evolving and adapting with our latest symbol holder
We’re delighted to award The Oxygen Works the Lasting Difference Symbol to recognise their commitment to organisational sustainability. The team have used the toolkit as part of their organisational review and made clear decisions about what aspects of their delivery...
Starcatchers awarded the Lasting Difference Symbol
We’re delighted to announce that Starcatchers, Scotland’s arts and early years organisation, is the latest Lasting Difference Symbol holder. Starcatchers has been connecting with The Lasting Difference over the past three years. This year is a milestone year for...
NEW: Guide to Managing Capacity
Managing capacity by getting resources to match demand is the number one sustainability challenge for the sector. Our new guide offers fresh, practical ways to think about and take action on managing capacity. Developed during the pandemic, but addressing the...