The ask and our response

The intention of the Review, as outlined in the commissioning brief, was to explore how JRCT can “add value as a funder, develop a forward-looking sense of its context, challenge its assumptions and strengthen the hands of people working for progressive change.”

There was a disconnect between the brief and our experiences of the people in JRCT. The brief gave us the sense that JRCT was looking for a traditional, perhaps academic, exercise that would support ‘quick wins’ for grantees and potential grantees in the short term.

Trying to make sense of the discrepancy, we wondered if a seemingly superficial Review was desired to ease the pain of the cultural transformation unfolding within JRCT.

If we were even remotely correct, we could understand why they would want small, digestible actions towards ‘progress’ - a normal reflex for any organisation faced with this level of challenge.

We were excited about the potential for the Review to support deeper transformational work within JRCT and brought a clear commitment to working reparatively.