The UK Values Alliance launched the Wake Up To Values project on 20.2.14. The project is aimed at putting values at the heart of the UK society. Click here to download the brochure.

To test the concept and the content of the workshop sessions, a pre-pilot was run with Apex Works, based in Leicester. Apex Works is an organisation that helps people get into work who may have had difficulties preventing them securing employment.

The first session in the project laid the foundations for the rest of the pre-pilot. Project participants learned about the UK Values Alliance and its purpose, the aim of the Wake Up To Values project and details of the pre-pilot’s 4 sessions taking place between February and May 2014.

All 4 sessions as well as the 3 and 6 month reviews are now complete. The staff and volunteers at Apex Works are now working with an agreed plan to continue living and working based on their selected core values. The CEO of Apex Works and the facilitator of the pre-pilot are in regular contact to ensure the Wake Up To Values approach continues to support the success of the organisation in the months and years ahead. Apex Works has confirmed that the project has been a great success in raising their awareness of values and helping them put theirs into action each day. They have found their participation in the project so helpful and inspiring that they have added reference to it, and the short video made during the sessions, to their website – http://www.apex-works.co.uk/about-us/.

Following the pre-pilot, the Wake Up To Values first pilot was carried out at CareWatch, an organisation looking after those in need in the Lewisham and Southwark areas of London. Again, feedback from participants confirms this pilot is another success.  Carewatch staff have prepared an impressive list of actions to ensure the learning from the pilot is continued. As with Apex Works, Values Champions have been appointed to support the ongoing work. The 3 month follow-up has taken place and the 6 month review is scheduled for Spring 2015.

On 12.12.14, the second pilot began with senior representatives from Housing Associations across England focused on determining the values, behaviours and actions that will positively impact the Housing Sector. As before, this pilot was facilitated by a member of the UK Values Alliance. Again, this pilot has been received with enthusiasm by participants and has the support of the Housing Diversity Network and the National Housing Federation (NHF). The 3 month follow up will take place in July 2015. There is the potential for this pilot to have a significant impact on many more Housing Associations throughout the sector. We have submitted an application to run a Wake Up To Values workshop at the NHF conference in September 2015.

Video recordings of all the pilots, including interviews with participants, have been made to date. These will be helpful to future pilots and to the media campaign that follows. There is also a 3rd Party Impact Assessment questionnaire, prepared by Leicester University, being completed at each pilot. Such independent assessments will help ensure the Wake Up To Values project is run in line with its aims and objectives and allow independent feedback on the project from participants.

Discussions are scheduled for 20.3.15 to consider the launch of a social media campaign to spread awareness of this exciting project to a wider audience.

The Wake Up To Values project is gaining impetus and making a positive impact on members of society. We plan to run a further 2 pilots, particularly one from the private sector, before the roll-out across the UK. A few members of the UK Values Alliance are supporting us in finding organisations for the future pilots, however, if you know of organisations that may like to take part in this project, or sponsors who may be willing to support it, please contact maureen@valuesalliance.co.uk for more information.