Running alliance meetings
Roadmap stop 8
The frequency of alliance meetings varies as does whether alliances meet physically or via virtual networks. Sending out dates well in advance can help with engagement.
Ensuring meetings are held, even when some partners aren’t able to attend can keep-up momentum and ensure that people expect to be invited.
Alliances should be a supportive environment. Part of the role of an Alliance is to enable partners to work through challenges together and progress activity through action focused meetings.
Ideally, alliances should regularly meet face-to-face. However, virtual networks can be effective through teleconferences with actions, minutes and reporting.
Alliances where actions are not regularly reported on, shared and updated can lose momentum – this may be more likely with a virtual alliance where partners commitments to joining meetings are lower.
Types of meeting
- Workshop style meetings can be a good way to get partners involved, which can be especially useful for new alliances
- Many alliances also run themed meetings, focusing the spotlight on particular local challenges or areas where support is needed from alliance partners
Example agendas
Buckinghamshire: 'Rose, Thorn, Bud' design approach
Buckinghamshire have been working to re-establish their alliance through workshop style meetings and engaging partners using the ‘Rose, Thorn, Bud’, design approach.
Background: Within Buckinghamshire the local Tobacco Control Alliance ceased over 3 years ago. The first workshop held was to launch the new Buckinghamshire Tobacco Control Strategy and re-establish an alliance. This was an exciting opportunity to bring a wide range of partners together.
Aims: The aim of the workshop was to introduce the new Strategy and give an overview of the wider picture, to bring together the supporting action plan and to share information on the most recent tobacco control issues. 14 delegates attended from over 10 different local organisations. 100% of participants agreed that they found the meeting useful.
Rose, Thorn, Bud approach: This process asks participants to look at something from three different perspectives:
- Rose: Something that is positive or working well
- Thorn: Something that is negative or not working well
- Bud: An opportunity or area for improvement
This can be a good way of getting partners involved and encouraging participants to look at issues from different perspectives.
The second Buckinghamshire Tobacco Control Alliance meeting featured four different presentations, one from each ‘Area of Action’ within the Strategy, covering topics from supporting smokers to quit to illicit tobacco.
Participants were actively engaged in the presentations by using the ‘Rose, Thorn, Bud’ approach to feedback for each presentation, which was then discussed as a group. The benefits of this method ensured participants were engaged throughout, and it was a useful way to gather a large number of ideas for consideration.