The Marine CoLABoration & Community of Practice
The Marine CoLABoration & Community of Practice
The Marine CoLABoration brings together marine and coastal organisations to place shared values at the heart of creating solutions for our ocean. By combining systems thinking, values-based communications and collaborative working, the Marine CoLABoration explores new ways to inspire action, strengthen partnerships and communicate why the ocean matters.
An Introduction to Our Approach
This practical guide captures six years of shared learning and explores the four core principles that underpin the Marine CoLABoration’s work:
- Values
- Systems thinking
- Collaboration
- Governance
Produced with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the guide introduces the methods and mindsets that helped the Marine CoLABoration increase the impact of its work across the UK's coasts and seas. It also offers practical insights for anyone looking to apply similar approaches in their own work.
Compass Course
One of the Marine CoLABoration's lasting legacies is the Compass Course, developed to share the practical tools, approaches and learning generated throughout the initiative.
Supported by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the course introduces coastal and marine professionals to systems thinking and values-based communications, helping participants apply these approaches to their own organisations and projects.
The first live online Compass course was delivered in autumn/winter 2021 in partnership with Forum for the Future, the Marine Conservation Society and Communications INC. Thirty participants completed the programme, providing excellent feedback and going on to embed the tools and techniques within their own work.
Building on this success, the course has since been developed into a flexible, self-paced learning programme. Through bite-sized videos, practical exercises and downloadable resources, the Compass Course enables busy professionals to explore values-based and systems approaches at their own pace.
Visit the Compass website to find out more and access the course.
Community of Practice
Today, the Marine CoLABoration continues through its Community of Practice - a supportive network for practitioners who have been involved in the Marine CoLAB or who are interested in applying its collaborative, values-led and systems-based approaches in their own work.
If you’d like to get involved, please contact us.