The Northern Housing Consortium represents and acts as the collective ‘voice’ of around 70 social housing providers across the north of England, with hundreds of thousands of properties under management. Seeking to respond to the growing sense of urgency around the Climate Crisis NHC approached Goodlabs to support a strategic new project focused on the decarbonisation of social housing across the north.
NHC are rightly concerned that housing is a major contributor to CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Inefficient boilers powering antiquated heating systems in poorly insulated homes makes for a poor carbon footprint. It also means that social housing tenants, often living on the poverty line, pay considerably more in fuel bills than they would do in a more efficient home. In order to provide clarity, generate ideas and get purchase on this vital agenda NHC contracted Goodlabs to lead them through a Theory of Change process.
A Theory of Change is a visual model generally rendered as a diagram or illustration accompanied by explanatory text. It seeks to clarify the steps by which change happens, that is, the way that a project or programme of work brings about an impact upon individuals and group toward which the work is directed. Theory of Change achieves this by explaining the relationships between the problem being addressed, the resources deployed, the actions taken and the outcomes achieved. Organisations of all kinds use Theory of Change to demonstrate to internal and external stakeholders that their work has clear method, logic and cohesion, and therefore that impact can be reliably delivered, rather than being left to chance.
Brian Robson, NHC’s Executive Director for Policy and Public Affairs reflects:
“We worked with Goodlabs on our organisation’s first Theory of Change. Matt took the time to understand our needs and developed a Lab format that enabled staff from all levels of the organisation to contribute. We then worked with Matt to turn the outputs from the Lab into a coherent Theory of Change model that was endorsed by our Board. I enjoyed working with Matt - he was supportive, constructive and collaborative - and hope the opportunity arises to do so again.”