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
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.
What we’ve learnt from systems mapping
What we've learnt from using mapping to understand the complex systems around people experiencing multiple disadvantage.
NPC’s system mapping workshops
In this guest blog, Sarah Tayleur, Innovation Partner at Fulfilling Lives, Lambeth, Southwark, and Lewisham, unpacks how we approached mapping the system affecting people experiencing multiple disadvantage.
Systems mapping multiple disadvantage
What barriers do people experiencing multiple disadvantage encounter when trying to access support?
How philanthropists should respond to coronavirus
A collaborative effort to help philanthropists keep charities serving throughout the coronavirus crisis, and prepare for whatever challenges the post-covid world will hold.
Preventing the ping-back: Turning system shifts into systems change
Covid-19 stopped the machine and catapulted us into an era of widespread system change. Or maybe not. Systems are stubborn and the changes we have seen were in fact temporary. How do we prevent the ping back?
Thoughts on how the sector can rethink and rebuild
For our 'Rethink, Rebuild' initiative, we are researching how to support the charity sector’s adaptation and increase its resilience. In this blog, we share thoughts from charity leaders on how the sector needs to change.
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