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Description
Organisational Grant - implementation of the submitted strategy.
The mission and vision of the Social Ideas Foundation (FIDEES) were modified in 2022. FIDEES is about people, our experience and the potential. We combine the commitment of activists with the experience of local government employees and the effectiveness of entrepreneurs – to ensure that the inhabitants of the Łódzkie Province have access to high quality social services. Our vision of a good future is better organised local communities for a better quality of people''s lives. We create such a future together with our partners - local governments, NGOs and entrepreneurs. FIDEES has a strong brand, builds on relationships, invests in its team and decent working conditions, uses external funds effectively and builds economic independence. Our strategic goals are: 1. To build relations with key stakeholders in the area of social services – local governments of the Łódzkie region, and NGOs; 2. To increase the quantity and quality of social services in the Łódzkie region; 3. To strengthen organisations in the field of social entrepreneurship. Our target groups include: residents of the Łódzkie Province, entities providing social services (local governments and institutions, NGOs, etc.) The FIDEES brand will be strengthened through the creation and implementation of its strategy, including a communication plan. The main challenge is to increase the organisation''s visibility among potential beneficiaries, to build relations and ultimately partnerships for the development of social services. Monitoring is permanently embedded in the organisation''s working methodology: weekly meetings, ongoing exchange of information, control of budget as well as strategic and project indicators. We conduct evaluation on a quarterly basis and the conclusions are implemented at the level of activities and operational goals.
Summary of project results
We included the problems and challenges we addressed under the institutional grant in the Foundation''s development strategy for 2022-24. We have indicated the main internal and external issues that determine the implementation of our mission of developing social services in the Łódź region. Implementation of the strategy assumptions under the institutional grant was supposed to allow us to support the Łódź region in striving for social standards based on wide availability of services and lasting cooperation between various sectors. The implementation of the strategy was intended to respond to the challenges related to the insufficient quality and availability of social services in the Łódź region, especially in the context of a dynamically aging society. The strategy also addressed challenges related to the lack of strong social ties, low levels of trust and poor cooperation of local institutions. In response, activities under the grant were aimed at increasing the number and quality of social services by developing cooperation between the public and non-governmental sectors and professionalizing local organizations. All this was intended to contribute to the creation of a lasting and sustainable support network in individual communities. Other challenges included limited human and financial resources in local government institutions and local organizations, as well as low knowledge about financing options for social services. The implementation of the grant, supporting our statutory activities, was intended to strengthen competences in managing and financing services and facilitate access to financial support for local organizations and institutions. In the context of new trends, such as the increasing need for inclusiveness and hyperlocalism, we intended to support the creation of flexible, deinstitutionalized services that respond to local community needs. For this purpose, we have planned to strengthen our brand and recognition among public and non-governmental entities operating in the region in the field of social services.
As part of the grant, we strengthened the Foundation and improved the availability and quality of social services in the Łódź region: 1. we developed an external communication strategy and increased the effectiveness of social media activities, 2. we have developed a knowledge base containing a set of document templates necessary for the implementation of social services, we have prepared a toolkit for NGOs on obtaining EU funds for the implementation of social services under ESF+ funds, and we also took substantive part in developing the content of an innovative guide for parents in cooperation with Science HUB UŁ and we financed its printing, 3. we prepared a brochure on our activities in the area of development of social services, we distributed it during meetings we organized at the City Hall of Łódź, during local events, conferences, individual meetings, 4. we obtained 20 declarations of cooperation with public and non-governmental entities as a result of numerous meetings and joint creation of plans related to the activities that we can undertake together with partners for the benefit of local communities in the Łódź Voivodeship and announced recruitments in the area of financing social services, 5. we successfully supported 7 organizations and 10 local governments in obtaining funds for the development of social services, including from EU, government and other sources, 6. we took part in training and courses on various topics, which improved our knowledge and skills, which resulted in higher quality and comfort of work, The 7th grant enabled us to organize meetings, participate in cultural events, and organize an integration trip for the entire Foundation team, which strengthened our relationships and allowed us to spend time together outside the work context, 8. we moved to a larger premises and equipped the office with furniture and electronic equipment, which increased the comfort and efficiency of our work.
The implementation of the strategy under the grant influenced the development of our organization, strengthened local institutions and improved the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Łódź Voivodeship: - Strengthening the procedures and visibility of the foundation - Thanks to the communication strategy, we increased the recognition of FIDEES as a leader in social services in the region. Online promotion and the brochures and information materials we prepared increased awareness of our brand and attracted new partners. - Development of competences and professionalization of NGOs - We have created a toolkit for NGOs and a knowledge base, providing access to documentation and templates useful in project management. Thanks to this, non-governmental organizations gained tools and knowledge, which contributed to their strengthening and greater financial independence. We also conducted workshops on obtaining EU funds, addressed to non-governmental organizations, strengthening their abilities to provide social services. - Expanding the cooperation network and supporting partners - As part of the project, we established cooperation with 20 institutions and organizations, which allowed us to create a lasting base of partners supporting the development of local social services. The increased number of partnerships translates into diversified support, including: for the elderly, children, families in difficult situations, refugees from Ukraine. - Support for the inhabitants of the voivodeship – Projects implemented with partners bring specific benefits to the inhabitants of the region. Our activities have led to the fact that, together with our partners, we have developed, among others: psychological support for children and young people from Ukraine, personal assistance for homeless people, help for seniors and integration activities for the local community. The result is that hundreds of people in difficult life situations are helped, which has a direct impact on their everyday life and well-being.