It seems clichéd to say ‘how is it November already’, but…
How is it November already?!
As the nights draw in and every ounce of my being longs for some sort of hibernation, I find it useful to take stock of the year so far. And in terms of the Imagine This partnership, what a year it’s been!
The outward headlines of this year are the three main events we have been part of:
✨ Youth celebration event and second Cosplay Gala
✨ Children and Young People’s Awards
✨ Powered By Youth
All of these things have been excellent and are well worth recognition, but I wanted this post to focus on the myriad of quiet things that go on in the background to it all.
The phone calls
The shared frustrations
The reading
The thinking
The connections and introductions
The Imagine This central team is made up of just three people – Jo, Rebekah and me – who all work part time. Much of that time is spent connecting with partners. Listening, trying to understand, joining the dots and linking into broader opportunities and conversations.
We have the great privilege of seeing the partnership with a helicopter view and I can tell you, the view from up here is marvellous! So many fantastic organisations doing such great work with, and for, the children & young people of Torbay.
But with that privilege comes a responsibility. A responsibility not just to listen but to hear; a responsibility to support a diverse array of individuals and needs; a responsibility to act; a responsibility to support organisations to keep the lights on and the doors open; a responsibility to make sure communication is open, consistent and two way. This is what happens in the quiet times between those events that get the attention. And it’s these things that lay the foundations for the events to be a success.
Because ultimately, partnership working is about relationships, and relationships take work. As we move into 2026, our last year of Imagine This funding, the privilege and responsibility of honouring those relationships is ours.
And I can’t wait!