The exchange was successful in terms of the outcomes specified in the application. We intentionally included members of our team from a wide range of responsibly, remit, and focus, to maximise the variety and quality of learning. This included 2 senior managers – one focused on strategy and the other on operations, a senior development worker, and a development worker.

During the exchange we explored common challenges, and how each organisation has overcome these. This ranged from finance, business planning, and operational delivery of projects. CFINE and Edinburgh Community Food are similar in some ways, and different in others, and it was very interesting to explore these.

We had opportunities to share best practice – in particular we were able to share how we each manage grant fund reporting and KPI tracking. We subsequently shared spreadsheet templates and it was helpful to see alternative approaches.

We explored ways to strengthen collaboration between the organisations. Currently we are both involved in a collaborative project funded by the Scottish Government around Cash First provision. We discussed this and other ways of working more closely in partnership.

Learning Outcomes

• Gain knowledge and understanding of common challenges being faced by both organisations and explore solutions to these.
• Share best practice on operational delivery of projects, health & safety, HR, and strategy.
• Explore new ways of strengthening collaboration and partnership working.

"We gained a greater understanding by sharing practice, experience (including lived experience), through being able to see first hand the commonality and differences of how challenges are overcome in organisational development at Edinburgh Community Food. All of this led to better inform our staff with the knowledge and expertise that will help our planning, development, and delivery of community food initiatives."