Kia ora from Jess and Marianne,
We’re reaching out to let you know about some significant changes we’ve made at The Workshop. The situation that led to these necessary changes was unexpected, and means that from the end of December The Workshop will be a much smaller organisation.
Our first priority has been to support our team as they navigate these changes which includes redundancy and some redeployment of roles. We want to acknowledge and show our appreciation to Jordan, Ellen, Jayne, Hannah, Nick, Tom and Paula who will be leaving us at the end of December. They are incredible people who have so much to offer both professionally and personally.
As we face this change, we want to celebrate the work that is a result of the team’s expertise, experience and desire to to make a real difference in our world.
Some highlights from this year include:
Producing effective tested messages and guide that will help our towns and cities open our streets for people who walk, ride bikes and take public transport
Finding more helpful ways to talk about government and its work for the long-term public good
Converting our research insights on climate change into an advanced training course
Working with our friends and partners at Tokona te Raki to start to build effective anti racism narratives
Converting our research insights on reframing crime and justice into an online training course
Creating an advocacy guide and sector training on ways to talk about the values of art, culture and creativity
Working with community housing advocates to support their implementation of insights from our narrative research
Continuing to train, advise and support advocates for welfare reform in their use of narratives for change
Advising and supporting the Fair Chance for All Enquiry on effective narratives to deepen understanding of persistent disadvantage and the system changes needed
Working with the Mental Health Commission to find and use more effective narratives to build support for system-level changes to improve mental health
Working with the Bioheritage Science Challenge to find ways to talk about Co-Governance and Māori self determination for the benefit of our environment
Starting a project to explore what people need to understand about climate change induced flooding and inundation, and how to communicate effectively to enable community decision-making about issues like managed retreat
Delivering training on Narratives for Change to many organisations and individuals
The Workshop will be shifting focus to the impactful work we can deliver in our new smaller structure. This means prioritising training, strategy and implementation projects that draw on the large body of narrative insights we now hold across multiple social and environmental topics. We’re committed to ensuring that the great work that has been done to date can continue to make our world a better and more just place for all people.
We wish you well this holiday season and thank you for your ongoing support.
Jess and Marianne