Game changing: Systems and place-based change

The systems and place-based change model and Fair Education Alliance workshops have been a true game changer for me. They provided a structure which made sense of the challenges that I'd been facing in demonstrating the connections between different aspects of our work such as policy, shifting narratives and services.

I found it incredibly inspiring and informative to listen to the experiences of  others and to better understand the barriers and the levers involved in place-based change. One key takeaway for me was that collaboration goes at the speed of trust. This means that trust between organisations and the communities they aim to support requires time and investment to develop to achieve truly impactful results.

Magic Breakfast is currently working both nationally and at a micro-local level in individual schools, with the flexibility of our models being crucial to their success. Understanding of the place-based system is vital for our advocacy work regarding the national rollout of Labour’s commitment to provide free breakfast to all primary-aged children, in addition to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill which solidifies these key principles in law. It is essential for us to incorporate adaptability for local communities and specific situations, being mindful of what aspects need to be tight or loose on a local level – a concept that resonated with me from Gina’s session at the FEA Summit. 

Magic Breakfast has been around for two  decades,  and we aspire to reach a time when we are no longer needed, and no child is too hungry to learn. The six conditions framework allows us to examine our role in breaking down the barriers that prevent this, recognise the contributions of others in the system, and understand the importance of collaboration in evolving and reshaping the system we operate within.   

It’s encouraging to see the Fair Education Alliance collaborating with other relevant sectors that impact children’s education, such as health, which aligns closely with our work at Magic Breakfast. Many organisations in education are engaging across different sectors, recognising that the complexity of intertwining systems provides new opportunities for positive change. 

If you missed the workshop series, I’d encourage you to watch the recordings and take some time to explore systems and place-based change. I hope you feel inspired to engage in these important conversations! 

Jacquie Bance de Vasquez

Director of Policy and Engagement at Magic Breakfast  

Jacquie Bance de Vasquez is the Director of Policy and Engagement at Magic Breakfast. Magic Breakfast is receiving support through a Scaling Award Grant to embed this approach across their team and strategy.