Sustain
Finding the Goldilocks zone
Keeping an organisation going over time means finding the balance that works for your team, your community and your resources. Not too rushed, not too rigid. Not too dependent on one person, one funder, or one way of doing things.
Sustainability is about more than just money. It’s about relationships, energy, trust, and structure. This page shares what we’ve learned about building that last without burning people out or losing sight of your original purpose.
🌱 Make Relationships the Priority
Care is built on relationships, and so is long-term sustainability. People tend to stay involved when they feel connected, respected and part of something meaningful. It’s not about forcing people to commit forever. It’s about building the kind of culture that people want to stick with.
What helps:
Supportive team culture: Regular check-ins, peer supervision, and space to speak up.
Consistent communication: Not just top-down updates — actual conversations.
Community connection: Don’t become a bubble. Stay rooted in the local networks that support care in everyday ways.
Flexibility: A working environment that has dealt with the logistics of people stepping back or stepping up depending on their life circumstances is essential for keeping those people with the co-op.
👉 You might also want to read: Peer Supervision, Care Commons, Community Mapping.
🌀 Prepare for Change
People come and go. Circumstances shift. If everything depends on a handful of individuals, things can fall apart fast. A sustainable project builds flexibility in from the start.
Try:
Welcoming new people gradually and supportively
Spreading out responsibility (no one person should hold everything)
Keeping simple records and shared knowledge banks
Planning for handovers and transitions, even informally
💰 Find a Funding Mix that Works
If you rely on a single source of funding, you’re vulnerable. But chasing every grant under the sun isn’t sustainable either. The key is balance: enough income to operate well, without being pulled too far from your values or overwhelmed by admin.
Consider:
Local authority or NHS commissioning
Community Share Offers
Direct payments from people getting care
Community fundraising or solidarity contributions
Grants or charitable funding
Local partnerships or anchor institutions
👉 You might also want to read: Find (More) Money
🔄 Keep Evolving with Purpose
The right balance today might not be the right one in a year. People change, needs change - and so should your service. That doesn’t mean chasing every trend. It means staying open to learning and adapting in ways that reflect your purpose.
Good habits:
Check in regularly with everyone involved
Look for patterns in feedback, not just individual comments
Share learning across the co-op, not just a select few
Return to your values often - are they still showing up in what you do?
👉 You might also want to read: Evaluation Framework, Radical Candour
🤝 Stay Connected to the Bigger Picture
You’re part of a wider ecosystem of people and projects working to transform care. Whether you're a small neighbourhood group or a growing co-op, staying connected helps you keep perspective - and not reinvent the wheel.
Ways to stay connected:
Link up with other care initiatives nearby
Join networks focused on co-operative or community-led care
Show up to gatherings, webinars or forums - even once in a while
Share your wins and your mistakes with others doing similar work
No one has it all figured out. But collectively, we’re getting closer to care systems that actually work- for everyone involved.
What is it?
In Phase 4, the Circle reaches financial sustainability and is in a position to support other Circles to develop and grow. Members may choose to incorporate as a separate entity — federated with Equal Care — or continue to evolve within the existing shared structure.
Why do it like this?
Recognising the point at which a Circle becomes financially independent honours the principle of autonomy. If Circle members want to explore new directions, access different funding streams, or shape the Circle in ways beyond Equal Care’s scope, incorporation as a co-op or other social purpose organisation becomes a natural next step.
Membership
Circle Members
Principles
Autonomy · Self-determination · Choice · Control
Time period
1-2 years from Circle inception
Evaluation and Continuous Learning
Reflect on what makes a Circle fully independent
Define success on the Circle’s own terms
Evaluate how the Circle’s relationship to Equal Care may shift, while ensuring mutual benefit and alignment
Outcomes
A mature, sustainable Circle that is ready to support and mentor others ("passing it on")
Expanded and diversified types of care and support offered, shaped by local needs and led by the community
Last updated
Was this helpful?