Learning To Change

Change, or, starting something new, often brings about unforeseen challenges.

Impact is no exception to change and change is a regular visitor to our door.

2016 has brought with it so much change – positive and challenging, and learning to adapt to change, particularly that which has been out of our control has taught us all new lessons!

It’s no secret that Impact was resurrected from the charity in 2015 and transformed into an enthusiastic community interest company. A new contract, a new business plan and an invigorated team all led to renewed hope and excitement for the future.

A self-governed change whilst holding tight to Impacts long-standing vision of providing intentional learning through sharing knowledge, enabling hope and providing support to those experiencing mental distress continued. In a nutshell – empowering people with new tools for their recovery wellbeing. An unshakable vision shaped by those who need our services.

What then, causes a positive change to become a challenge? What causes our good intentions and determination to falter or, as we like to call it here at Impact, what causes us to ‘Blip’?

Ah, that would be that thing called life!

Life, so much of it out of our control, surely we can’t plan for every blip, every difficulty or hurdle? The answer? A resounding no. We can’t and neither should we try to avoid every challenge or turn our back on the unknown. But still, unexpected change can be irritating to say the least!

So, how do we manage the challenges that life throws at us when we’ve worked so hard to put a good plan in place?! For Impact, for me, learning, adapting and sharing has been the answer for 2016. Learning new tools to manage new change takes courage and acceptance; courage to try something new and face new/old fears, acceptance through acknowledging our need to continually learn as we continually grow.

Learning pushes our boundaries of familiarity and squeezes us out of our comfort zone – it takes courage to learn about who we are and this is what we believe is the backbone to begin the empowering journey of recovery…

Impact is on a journey, I am on a journey and I don’t mind sharing that during this year I experienced a ‘blip’. A blip caused by change, despite a plan in place! My blip caused me to seriously question this concept of recovery and ask myself, does it work? If I feel the way I do, after staying well for so long, after putting in place what I believed were the right tools to keep me well… how can I blip? That doesn’t seem fair does it? I’ve worked hard, I was prepared, and this doesn’t meet my understanding of recovery one jot!

I have to admit I’m smiling at this point, smiling because regardless of the wealth of recovery knowledge at my fingertips, I know, I innocently (and frustratingly) forgot an important tool – Plan B!! Adapting to the change through learning and sharing my journey with my peers.

Part of me (an old part of me) wanted to point the finger, at me – lay the blame at my door, accuse myself of, oh what’s that word we dislike at Impact so much, oh yes, failing!

I’ll confess, for a brief period I did feel that I had failed myself and everyone involved in Impact – frankly, how could I demonstrate recovery to my team and to our learners if I blip?! That’ll be my Chimp!

Funny isn’t it? The ridiculous expectations we have of ourselves to be perfect, to always succeed in change and overcome all that ‘life’ throws at us.

Yet change, a slippery and sometimes confusing customer, lays bare the opportunities to learn, it has no agenda and neither cares nor needs for us to seize it or ignore it – it’s just there, always there.

What we do with change and how change can ultimately affect us, begins with us. We can either do what we’ve always done and get what we’ve always got. We can turn our back on change and spend our lives living in the past. Or, we can dig deep for the courage we need to learn what we need in order to make the change part of a positive journey.

My blip, caused by change, quite simply has been a PhD of learning for me this year! A tough lesson taught by change with a single nurturing message “I don’t care what plan you have in place, adapt to the change, learn from the experience and share for growth.”

Eventually, with support from my peers I adapted, slowly but surely I learnt new tools and I share this experience for my growth and yours…

Thank you 2016, a significant year of adapting to change for our Learners, for Impact and for me.

…and before we move into 2017, I want to thank a few people for their dedication, support and commitment to Impact and to me…

To my team – utterly amazing, courageous, patient, tenacious, kind and lovely, I can’t thank you all enough for continuing to help me!

To the incredible BESS Team at Central Bedfordshire Council for their unflinching ability to support us through many changes this year. I am constantly overwhelmed by their generosity to help grow new local, community businesses and the great relationship between our two organisations…

• Christine Knox, Employment and Skills Service Manager
• Doug Hook, Commissioning & Contract Manager
• Mandy Bates, Quality & Inclusion Manager
• Karen Evans, Data Officer
• Karen Simpson Contract Management Officer

To all of the organisations and professionals who have referred those in need of our services – you really are a patient, understanding and lovely bunch of people – keep the referrals coming please!

And to each and every person who has attended an Impact You Programme or one of our new Pathways to Recovery courses – your courage is humbling, your determination is inspiring and your desire for hope is the fuel that drives us on, thank you.

Wishing you all a peaceful and relaxing festive period to take you into a happy and healthy New Year!

Déanne Clark

CEO