The Lens has worked with three major Scottish voluntary organisations in the last year to support their staff to create innovative projects
A body set up to encourage Scotland’s third sector to be more innovative and efficient has been awarded a second year of funding.
After just over a year in operation The Lens has worked with organisation like Cornerstone, Loretto Care and the Prince’s Trust to help them create new innovative projects.
Now the Scottish Government has awarded it an additional £200,000 to continue its work with more organisation.
The Lens is a prime example of what can be achieved when the public, private and third sectors work in partnership - Jamie Hepburn
The Lens Programme is designed to enable front line staff to develop ideas and backs those ideas with an investment fund of £20,000.
It is based on the principle of intrepreneurship, which is when people behave in an entrepreneurial way within larger organisations.
Steve McCreadie created the Lens while working within Aberlour Childcare Trust in a bid to find solutions to public funding cuts and growing demand for third sector services.
He said: “With continued pressure on the economy, changing demographics and the demand for personalised services, organisations need to look at developing innovative solutions to the challenges they are facing. Intrapreneurship offers a new way in which to develop these solutions.
“By developing the skills, mind-set and culture that promotes innovation and engages the workforce in service design, organisations will be able to better meet these challenges.”
A recent independent evaluation of The Lens rated the programme very highly in terms of quality of support provided to staff, that it allowed managers to identify key front line staff who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to share their ideas as well as enabling workforce innovation.
Jamie Hepburn, minister for employability and training, said: “The Lens is a prime example of what can be achieved when the public, private and third sectors work in partnership. Unleashing the intrepreneurial talent of our people is about more than just profit.
“It’s about impact in every area of life, which is why I am pleased to confirm that we are investing a further £200,000 in the future of the Third Sector through initiatives like The Lens.”
