Catalyst Network

Some lessons in 2024 to use in 2025... Dismantling oppression: the findings from our most recent funder forum. On November 19th, we held our most recent funder forum; bringing funders and grassroots groups together, in-person for the first time. On the day, we explored how funders could resource tech solutions that support communities impacted by the Islamophobic violence in August. In this article, we highlight the invaluable contributions and key insights shared by participants on the day Themes covered include: - The ways that technology fuels harmful narratives  - Catalyst’s upcoming tech justice work  - Funders’ responses to the racist riots  - Institutional philanthropy and faith-based organisations - The need for cultural change alongside funding - The importance of relationships and what holds funders back - The areas where funders should focus their attention. https://lnkd.in/e_aBGp9q #FunderForum #SystemsOfOppression #TechJustice

Will this change in 2025? Five funders supporting systemic change. A persistent patriarchy, lack of accountability for where and how funding is spent, or the inability to tackle the root causes of systemic inequality: institutionalised philanthropy is failing to address society’s most pressing problems. Thankfully, some funders are working hard to tackle these issues and drive systemic change. Yet, they rarely get the recognition they deserve. In this article, Dawn K. introduces five of them, celebrating their new models that challenge conventional funding approaches and support sustainable change. https://lnkd.in/e4RvHMF3 #Funding #Philanthropy #SystemicChange

Help Catalyst reimagine our brand for 2025, and win a web accessibility audit worth £3,000! Throughout 2024, you have been reading about Catalyst’s refreshed vision, mission and values. Now, we are turning our attention to reinvigorating our brand for the year ahead. We’ve been looking into how our audience responds to different designs, and we'd love to hear your feedback. Take our anonymous five-minute survey at the link below. As a thank you, respondents who provide their email addresses will be entered into a prize draw to win an accessibility audit (worth £3,000) for a website of their choice. Our communications partner, Passion4Social CIC, will deliver the audit as part of their successful Accessibility for All project. Thank you and good luck! https://lnkd.in/ewvbr27D #Rebranding #HaveYourSay #AccessibilityForAll

Introducing our new project: The Tech Justice Road Trip The majority of tech projects focus on profit and power. They rarely prioritise the values of justice, equity and fairness. The Tech Justice Road Trip is our exciting new project, marking the start of our work to change this harmful status quo. It will see Catalyst work closely with communities to understand their experiences of tech injustice and reimagine ways it could be used to liberate people. This article by Joe Roberson introduces the project and what it hopes to achieve. Dive in to explore its origins, the justice-driven organisations involved, and how the team will use sociocratic methods across three community test sites to reimagine tech justice. https://lnkd.in/e-FybybB #TheTechJusticeRoadTrip #LiberatoryTech #TechJustice #Sociocracy

Understand the problem: What even is digital inclusion? Do you view digital as a luxury or an essential? Could you ever imagine a life of digital disadvantage? In this recent SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) blog, Jason Railton reflects on the need for more public understanding of digital inclusion, and its importance to our daily lives. Seeing digital inclusion as everyone’s responsibility, he challenges us to develop our understanding of digital exclusion and its real-life impact on people locked out of a world we often take for granted. This blog is packed with practical advice for familiarising yourself with the issue and implementing change within your organisation. https://lnkd.in/e6gN7wdA #DigitalInclusion #HiddenInequalities #TheDigitalDivide

Bean There Done That: Reflecting on Coffee Connections Before our transition in April, Catalyst supported Coffee Connections; working alongside CAST Centre for the Acceleration of Social Technology to foster meaningful connections between charities and individuals, and building digital confidence across the sector. As the partnership wraps up, Tori Ellaway (Victoria Kate Ellaway) reflects on the positive impact the initiative has created in its six-year history, the lessons learned along the way, and the plans for this light touch programme. https://lnkd.in/eCWUWHr4 #CoffeeConnections #DigitalResilience #Charities

Standing True: Leadership in the Face of Systemic Resistance In the latest episode of their Starts at the Top podcast, hosts Zoe Amar FCIM and Paul Thomas Digital chat with Sal Naseem FRSA, former London Regional Director for the Independent Office of Police Conduct. Among the top 10 anti-discrimination advocates on LinkedIn, and named on the Diversity Power List 2023-24, Sal spent almost a decade leading some of the most challenging police misconduct cases of recent times. Giving listeners some powerful insights into his incredible journey, Sal shares the lessons he has learnt about leading change within complex systems and maintaining a values-led approach. Especially in the face of systemic resistance. Listen at the link below to hear how humility and a strong moral compass helped guide him through the toughest leadership decisions. https://lnkd.in/ermeHhhV #Leadership #SystemicChange #InstitutionalRacism

Following our call for contributions to the Catalyst Medium publication; it seemed apt to revisit Joe Roberson’s evergreen guide to writing a weeknote in 30 minutes. Weeknotes are short reflections on your working week and are often the preferred method for writers to share what they are learning, or give project updates. Dive into Joe Roberson’s article to discover the 3 ingredients of a successful weeknote, a six-step process for writing yours, and what to do when you aren’t confident enough to hit publish. https://lnkd.in/e6V5ifJd #Weeknotes #OpenWorking #DigitalResources

🔍 Evaluating digital products and services in the charity sector. Creating and adopting digital products and services brings numerous benefits for charities. However, assessing and evaluating these digital offerings necessitates a different approach to the more traditional monitoring of in-person services. This Catalyst guide provides advice on the evaluation of digital products and services for charities, evaluators, funders and agencies. It has been broken down into three easy-to-follow sections: - Approaching the pre-evaluation process - Deciding what to measure and when - How to measure the impact of your digital product or service effectively. https://lnkd.in/eq4eAVk4 #DigitalProducts #ImpactMeasurement #Monitoring

DigiShift 87: developing your charity’s 2025 digital roadmap Join SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) for their final DigiShift of the year, this 17th December. In a fast-paced discussion, you will reflect on the successful aspects of your digital strategy and identify what needs to be adjusted for 2025. Highlights of the session include: - An introduction to SCVO’s new digital strategy playbook - Insights from Third Sector Lab’s Ross McCulloch into meeting your digital, data and design aspirations in 2025 - A session on planning your digital roadmap - A talk on how changing mindset and culture can help you look to the future. Book your free place at the link below. https://lnkd.in/eB5MbrP8 #DigiShift #DigitalStrategy #TechForGood