StepUp MCR was started by One Manchester, a housing provider in east Manchester, and partners including Manchester Council and the local Mental Health Trust. It supports ideas that encourage people to 'step up, step out and step into action'.
The Board aims to attract people who want to be involved in StepUp MCR’s vision. They ‘sounded out people’ through networks who brought skills, experience of working with corporates, finance, knowledge of policies and procedures. They then recruited openly: “Let’s see who we get and then see what’s missing”. The Board’s key questions were, ‘do you get what we’re doing’ and ‘are you passionate about it?’ They were particularly keen to achieve greater Board diversity.
A rotating Chair has helped with collective ownership and shaping culture in the setting up phase of StepUp MCR, and overall the Board has helped to fill some of the organisation’s skills gaps. Following a successful strategic away day, Step Up MCR is looking forward to working on the second phase its governance plan.
An Advisory Panel - ‘a good, relaxed group’ - makes recommendations to the Board on which organisations should be funded; and following this process they are matched with a community champion. The panel is now 18 members strong, and every panel member has strong links to the local area. Looking ahead, StepUp MCR is looking to recruit even more advisers, and is going to set up hyper-local advisory panels.
“We’re testing and learning, no one size fits all” says Nicole Hope, Step Up MCR Funding Manager.
