Systems change
How do we get to the heart of an issue? What is the root cause of homelessness, crime, health inequality, and youth poverty? To achieve real change it’s not enough to focus solely on the issue at hand. We need to look at the whole system.
Systems change is about how our society is structured. By understanding the complexity of the environment you are working in, and the systems you are part of, you stand a much greater chance of securing lasting change.
Thinking Big is our guide to using theory of change for systems change, with five ways to succeed and five pitfalls to avoid. We also run regular training sessions to help you put this guidance into practice.
Coronavirus has shown us just how integral systems change is, and why we need to bring it out of the clouds and into the mainstream. If you’re keen to support research into how systems change can meet other social challenges we’d love to hear from you.
Featured resources on systems change
Rethink, Rebuild
Coronavirus is a systemic change that demands a systemic response. We need to plot a more resilient, more equitable, more progressive future for our sector.
Systems change: A guide to what it is and how to do it
Systems change has been attracting the attention of those in the social sector who want to deal with the root causes of problems. This guide has been produced to plug a gap in the systems change literature—providing accessible material and recommendations for action.
Thinking big: How to use theory of change for systems change
Applied well, theory of change can support charities and funders to take a systemic approach to their work. This report identifies five common pitfalls when using theory of change, and walks through five rules that will help organisations to use the approach to tackle complex problems.
Covid-19 means systems thinking is no longer optional
The hard reality of system interdependence is being brought directly into our homes and news feeds. What lessons will we learn? What changes will it bring? Now is the time to bring systems change out of the clouds and into the mainstream.
Embracing the process
'Charities and funders don’t need to become experts in theory of change and systems change to benefit from them.' A week after we launched our new guide to theory of change for systems change, one of it's authors, Katie Boswell reflects on the process the team went through to create it..
Let’s embrace uncertainty to tackle systemic problems
Julian Corner Chief Executive of the Lankelly Chase Foundation argues that as change rarely comes in the form we expect, our strategies to achieve it should be just as flexible.
Latest updates
Nerys Anthony: Why we need Systems Change if we’re to achieve impact
To mark our 20th birthday, we've been talking to leading figures and people doing things differently to ask: Where next for social impact?
Listen: Systems strategy
Seth Reynolds, our Systems Change Principal, speaks with Sam Davies, host of the Charity Chat podcast, to talk about how charities can adopt a systems approach to how they work.
Learning from people who work within the system
The Fulfilling Lives LSL team echo the findings of our recent report on multiple disadvantage and support the recommendations with their own experiences.
Five changes we must make for people experiencing multiple disadvantage
How to help more people live more fulfilling lives.
Systems change for people experiencing multiple disadvantage
What have we learned about the system and how it can change?
A big year for social impact and for NPC
For us at NPC, 2022 is our 20th year of existence. 20 years working with, and as part of, this terrific charity and philanthropy sector to help it maximise its social impact. Already this year we are excited by lots of things we have upcoming.
Rethink, Rebuild
The covid-19 pandemic brought about a host of changes in the experience and practises of charities and funders in the UK. We set up Rethink Rebuild to find out what those changes are, which changes helped make charities more impactful, and how they could be continued.
Systems strategy
No single organisation working alone can ever achieve its mission. Understanding how we contribute to the wider system should be at the heart of our strategies.
Uncovering key factors that can help break the cycle of reoffending
We are creating a systems map that will help funders better target their resources in the criminal justice system. It will show how factors that drive the cycle of reoffending exist within an interconnected system.
Lessons from evaluating systems change progress during the pandemic
This is the second in a series of joint blogs by Collaborate and NPC. In this piece, we explore the impact of the pandemic on our systems change evaluation work and how the crisis has affected systems change progress.
Evaluating systems change
This joint blog by Collaborate and NPC details our work developing a maturity model for Save the Children UK’s Early Learning Communities programme.
Talk to us
Have a question, comment, or want to work with us on systems change? Get in touch with Seth Reynolds NPC’s Systems Change Principal.
Get in touch