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Framework seeks new members

Following Moira and Andrew's recent departure, the four of us are inviting anyone who thinks they might become a Framework member to consider contacting us.

Framework members have come and gone during our 24 years’ history, and our membership has always kept between four and seven members. This range suits our collaborative, independent-yet-collective approach to supporting each other in our freelance organisational development work. We have now four members, based across the UK in Oxford, York and Fife.

With Moira and Andrew’s recent departure, the four of us are inviting anyone who thinks they might become a Framework member to consider contacting us. We are not advertising for any positions, nor is there an application form: Framework is a non-legal identity, and we each manage our own businesses. If you like us and we like you then there’s a conversation to be had. More details about our joining process can be found at http://www.framework.org.uk/view.aspx?id=43

A few comments might help us be clear about our invitation:

We are probably most likely to be interested in those who are already full-time freelance or who are intending to become freelance in the near future. We work in the realm of organisational development; and we take a whole organisational approach, working at all levels of an organisation and in a variety of ways. So your portfolio would address that broad approach rather than – for example – only providing training, or only counseling, or only stress management etc.

Historically, Framework engages just with not-for-profit organisations: charities and statutory sectors in the UK and abroad. We have a strong values-led approach – see our Code of Practice as an introduction http://www.framework.org.uk/view.aspx?id=20

You should also be aware that Framework does not directly generate or hand out work to its members. People join us because of what Framework is (or what they would like Framework to become) rather than because of the chance of paid work. We are all concentrating on making our own businesses a success; and we are interested in anyone who feels their own business can work alongside – and benefit from – being part of and contributing to Framework’s development. We don’t do arms-length associate relationships, for example; and there’s no category of membership called “Framework Associate”.

We each have relationships with a range of other consultancies and networks, of course, and we have other identities as professionals to suit those relationships. For each of us, however, Framework is (or is on the way to becoming) our primary professional identity and support base.

Our best analogy is that as Framework members, we are jamming together in a band, making music. We each bring our own unique sound, and find that we make interesting and creative music together. And it is possible that all the guidelines about membership might change one day – Framework reflects who we are rather than what the network has historically been. It’s the individual sounds that make the harmony. If you have an instrument and a sound which you think would add to the mix, then the invitation is to find out more about us from the website and/or by speaking with one of us.

And if none of the above applies to you but you are still interested in Framework and our approaches to our work and our clients, do be in touch with us to share your ideas and questions. Our Framework community also offers ways for engaging with us http://www.framework.org.uk/view.aspx?id=44

Our contact details can be found here: http://www.framework.org.uk/view.aspx?id=15

Or contact your nearest Framework member:

Brenda (Oxford, England)

Bruce (Fife, Scotland)

Katherine (Oxford, England)

John (York, England)

Author : John Gray

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