At the heart of our work at TaAF is the belief that when people begin to shift their mindsets, change their approach and build new skills, they are the key to changing the systems and places around them for the better.
As we approach the end of our Accelerator funding phase, we are celebrating the people who have been on this journey with us, those who’ve not only changed themselves, but helped shape the communities and systems around them for the better.
When Tracy first got started in her shared role with Together an Active Future (TaAF) she quickly realised this was going to be a different kind of challenge. The work felt unfamiliar, the expectations were open-ended and many around her didn’t quite understand or value the approach. Four years on and Tracy’s mindset has shifted, she’s gone from delivering target-focused programmes to enabling others, building the confidence to know when to lead, when to nudge, and when to create space for others to step in.
Stepping into something different
Tracy’s previous role was built around clear structure and delivery. As manager of the Healthy Lifestyles programme, where she managed health referral programmes. Success was measured in numbers, attendance, completions and outcomes.
When the funding ended for her role, Tracy inherited this new, more unstructured role as the Ribble Valley Lead for TaAF. The role was to lead a programme which didn’t shy away from ‘doing it differently’. Tracy was given time and headspace to connect and explore new possibilities within communities.
“We couldn’t carry on doing more of the same, but that was difficult when some of what we’d been doing felt like it was working.”
Testing and learning new approaches to physical activity, learning creative engagement techniques and communicating using different technology was different from the traditional and highly structured council environment she was accustomed to. Stradling across the two very different systems took felt uneasy at first and it took time for Tracy to find her feet.
“The clash between TaAF way and the council was a real challenge.”
Seeing things differently
The biggest shift for Tracy wasn’t in what she was doing, it was in her approach. One tool that supported that shift was the Clifton Strengths coaching which TaAF enabled all district leads to undertake.
“When I did Clifton Strengths, I looked at it and thought ‘wow, that’s me! It helped me understand why I do things the way I do, and that it’s actually okay.”
With empathy and individualisation in her top strengths, Tracy saw how her instinct to tune into people’s needs and bring people together was how she could effectively lead change. She realised she didn’t need to try and be everything to everyone. She started to play to her strengths: building trust, growing others’ confidence and connecting the dots behind the scenes.
Creating Space and Backing Others
Tracy was still showing up in community spaces as she always had, but she stopped seeing herself as the one who had to do it all. She enabled others to take on more responsibility so she could be more strategic.
“I go to sessions now and think, what else can we do? How can we reach more people? And how can I support the team to get there?”
Through the local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS), she initiated the recruitment of a Green Social Prescriber, adapting a model from another district to fit Ribble Valley. She also helped the Community Action Network (CAN) positively change into a more relational, inclusive space and worked behind the scenes with the Procurement team to build understanding and flexibility around people-focused roles.
“You changed the way the CAN network works, you’ve helped it to be less formal, it’s a friendlier place to be in now. Networking has improved and people are talking more!” commented a colleague.
Slow, quiet and connected change
Tracy’s shift in mindset has contributed to small but meaningful and importantly sustainable changes across the parts of the system she’s connected with. Community groups are more self-led, partnerships are more collaborative and previously rigid processes are slowly becoming more people centred. This change has taken time.
What’s made the difference is Tracy’s persistence and her relationships, using her strengths to work in a way that can drive change. There has become more openness across departments, more acceptance to different ways of working and willingness to ask questions and learn. With support from her team, who value and share her belief in doing things differently, she’s been able to keep moving forward, even when the system didn’t make it easy.
Still doing what I love… just differently
With greater confidence, clarity and a new way of working Tracy now makes decisions differently, works across more complex relationships and sees connections.
“I feel like I’m in a better place…I feel like when I move back to my previous role , I’m going to be taking a lot with me. I believe it’s having the confidence…I know we’re good at classes, I know we’re good at Ops management, but now I also know that I’m good at other things as well.”
As TaAF has moved into its Deepening phase, Tracy has returned to her role leading health and wellbeing programmes. But she’s not the same person she was before.
I’m in a different place now. My experience with TaAF and the support I’ve received has changed how I approach my work. I’m more confident to question and challenge ‘traditional’ protocols and ways of working.”
Change in me, change in the system
Tracy’s story is a reminder that meaningful change often starts with time, trust and the space to think differently.
Over the last few years, Tracy has found a new way of working, she’s learned to step back, lift others up and identify gaps for growth. She’s adapted, grown, and found new confidence, not just in what she does, but in how she does it.
Despite working within a system that hasn’t always welcomed change, she’s held her course and recognised that small shifts are still big wins. What’s changed for Tracy is how she sees her role, shaped by a different mindset, new capabilities, and a belief in doing things differently.