The System Change Toolkit
A straightforward look at 4 key pillars of effective, long-term system change, built on learning drawn from five years of the New System Alliance, the lived experience of people we worked with during that time.
Looking for additional resources? Access additional resources to support these topics here.
The Relationships
Relationships emerged as a key theme from our conversations over the last five years. Questions about how we can put relationships first and what that looks like in practice, the challenges and benefits of connecting with others rather than working in silos, and the importance of building trust, are themes that were raised consistently.
We believe that focusing on good relationships is central to making any meaningful change across the UK. This short report pulls out the key themes, and some ideas for reflection, from those conversations.
The Community
Community was a key theme that emerged from our conversations over the last five years, as the New System Alliance. Questions about how people connect with each other in communities, assumptions we make about each other, and the importance of people feeling they belong, were raised consistently.
We believe that community is central to making any meaningful improvement to our lives, including to our health across the UK. This short report pulls out the key themes, and some ideas for reflection, from those conversations.
The Power
Power is a key theme that has emerged from our conversations over the last five years. Questions about the way power, privilege and position in society impact our approaches to supporting people, questions about whose voices are valued or ignored in systems, and the importance of agency, were raised consistently. We believe that understanding and sharing power is central to making any meaningful change across the UK. This short report pulls out the key themes, and some ideas for reflection, from those conversations.
When we talk about power, we also include the idea of ‘agency’, ‘choice’, and the ability to influence the world around us. As a catch-all term, ‘power’ is what we have settled on to describe this broad concept.
The Learning
Learning was a key theme that emerged from our conversations over the last five years. Questions about where we look for solutions to complex and systemic problems, what enables us to learn from fear of failure, and the importance of listening were raised consistently. We believe that learning together is central to making any meaningful change across the UK. This short report pulls out the key themes, and some ideas for reflection, from those conversations.
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Additional resources
Past event recordings, networks and further reading around the topics covered here
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Our Manifesto for Change
We’re calling for an evolution in the way that mental health is understood and treated. Read about our recommendations in our Manifesto for change.
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What is system change?
The mental health and wider health, social care and public sector systems need to be radically reformed.
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A Heart of Help
Listening and learning from people with experience of substance use and sanctuary seeker services in Wales.
