Transforming Leadership in Leeds

Tomorrow sees the launch of a transformational leadership programme in Leeds.

The Transform Leeds Leadership Programme is taking a radical approach to improving third sector leadership and partnership practices. We want to develop individuals leading third sector organisations to work strategically with public and private sector partners to tackle shared challenges for the City.

It's a big ask. Look beyond your own organisation, and your own sector and develop a shared understanding of what needs to be done in order to tackle the challenges facing communities in Leeds.

This is a new style of leadership, but one which should fit instinctively with the third sector. The challenge is to avoid the distractions; the management of your organisation, the 'politics' of the sector, and instead to remain focused on your mission; improving the lives or the communities you exist to serve.

Our programme will support participants to become more strategic civic leaders and build more effective relationships and partnerships across sectors. The programme will allow participants to direct and fulfill their own personal development needs, focus on key skills such as communications and influencing, and translate this learning into issues based workshops tackling real life issues.

Our vision is to achieve diverse and dynamic leadership in the third sector, which translates the authentic voice of citizens and communities into strategic decision making in Leeds. We are keen to ensure that aspiring as well as current leaders take part, and that we get a mix of backgrounds and experiences.

Take a look and see if it's for you http://www.val.org.uk/page/transform-leeds-leadership

Achieving Transformation - help shape a new model

The third sector in Leeds has set itself a challenge: to achieve meaningful and lasting transformation. No mean feat. It requires a shared understanding of the issues at hand and a commitment to an agreed way forward from all of those required to make the change happen. 

The Transform Leeds programme is developing leadership, collaborative ways of working and shared space both on and off-line for the sector to pool information and resources. 

This alone will not equal transformation. A radical and innovative new model for leadership and delivery of support services to the sector is essential if we are to meet the future needs of our communities.

The Transform Leeds Commission is the vehicle through which we intend to thrash out how we can achieve this vision, develop creative and credible solutions for change and ensure the recommendations are owned by all of those who wish to be part of the journey of change. 

The work of the Commission will run throughout the lifetime of the Transform Leeds project, reporting in Summer 2013. There will be five periods of consultation with Commission members meeting in between to consider the findings. 

What would you ask?

Commission members are leaders from across the public private and third sectors in Leeds and beyond.

At their first meeting in October they identified a number of key themes which frame the range of questions which need to be considered; 

• Civic Enterprise

• Fit for the Future

• Making Leeds Great

We now want to know if you agree with these themes and what you would ask about the future of support and development services.

Find out more about the Commission, the themes  we are consulting on and how you can have your say at www.val.org.uk/news/deciding-the-future--what-would-you-ask