We've brought together a fascinating and unusual collection of stories, ideas and case studies into Insights for A Better Way: improving services and building strong communities.

The collection is dedicated to the late Jane Slowey, a founder member of A Better Way who inspired us with her Advantaged Thinking, and includes an essay by Colin Falconer in her memory.

Communities could be so much stronger, services so much better and this collection of insights lights the way. Individually, the contributions flesh out our Better Way principles (see here). Collectively, they develop four themes that take us a further step toward our ultimate ‘call to action’, providing rich ideas, practical experience and inspiration.

First, we’ve started to demonstrate the value of stories that move hearts as well as minds, bringing the principles alive and giving ‘ideas friends’. Take this story by Julia Unwin, one of many that will inspire you.

Second, these essays tell us what we mean by ‘shared leadership’, a concept that lies at the heart of our belief in collaboration rather than competition. Sue Tibballs invites us to be bold in taking social power and Cate Newnes-Smith calls on us to become 'systems leaders - two of many powerful essays on this theme. 

Third, the rich potential of communities, people and organisations is really brought home here, with writers such as Karin Woodley advocating organisations that practice 'radical listening' and Sona Mahtani and Olli Batchelor, to name just a few, writing about places and institutions that give people power, voice and agency. 

Finally, there’s ideas and experience in this volume for putting all of the Better Way propositions into practice, avoiding lip-service, from Rich Wilson's Good Help, David Robinson's Warm Web, to Matt Kepple's Wikipedia for the social sector - just three examples out of very many thought-provoking pieces.

If you'd like to read the whole collection, it's available here, including an introduction which gives more details about these themes and how they are brought out in the essays.

Some individual pieces can be found on our blog page, including contributions by Polly Neate, Julia Unwin, Graeme Duncan, Kathy Evans, Alicia Moore, Sona Mahtani and Colin Falconer.  A number are being featured by Civil Society news: essays by Caroline Slocock, Chris Wright, Matt Kepple, Karin Woodley, Mark Johnson, Sue Tibballs, So Jung Rim and Steve Wyler.

The collection is published by Civil Exchange in partnership with the Carnegie UK Trust, with additional support by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.