Icarus
enabling positive change
Icarus get people talking.
Icarus exists to get people working well together so that they can do their best thinking and make better plans and decisions.
Our work includes evaluation, facilitation, stakeholder engagement and research, and we work across a range of fields – social capital and regeneration, health and social care, child and family services, voluntary sector development and the environmental sector. We design and facilitate processes that make sure that everyone who needs to be involved in a decision, issue, strategy or plan will have their voice heard and can actively participate.
Featured Work
Humber Stategy – Risk Analysis Workshop
Icarus was asked to design and facilitate a risk analysis workshop to help Environment Agency staff and their key partners appraise future risks to the flood management strategy and to put in place mitigating measures. The one day session was facilitated in a very interactive way to encourage creative thinking both about risk and response.
All Facilitation work » Net Gain – Development of Marine Conservation Zones
Icarus is working alongside our colleagues at BDOR (other engagement specialists) to support this exciting engagement initiative. Net Gain is a government initiative established to work with all stakeholders to the North Sea in building consensus on the location, size and management of Marine Conservation Areas (sea areas where biodiversity will be protected). This innovative two year process involves the design and facilitation of meaningful conversations between the fishing industry, conservationists, recreational sea users, oil, gas and renewable energy providers, coastal communities and local authorities to name but a few. latest news on the progress is available at www.netgainmcz.org
All Designing and delivering engagement processes work »
Community Media Matters – Does It?
In 2008 Voluntary Action Kirklees (VAK) secured funding from the Big Lottery BASIS fund to improve marketing and communication within the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in Kirklees. This funding is now coming to an end and Icarus has been helping VAK and its partners to understand what has been learnt about what kind of marketing and communication support the VCS needs, how this should be delivered and why marketing and communications are important. Our report will use case studies to evidence the substantial contribution that community media (in the form of press releases, websites, audio materials, social networking, film making etc) can make to strengthening relationships, identity building and income generation within the VCS.
All Participative evaluation work »Investing in Communities in Cumbria
Investing in Communities has been a fascinating programme in Cumbria, looking for efficiency savings in planning’s development control section of the Lake District National Park Authority through improved community planning processes. It has been Icarus’ role to provide an ongoing evaluative input into the programme over its 3 year lifetime and to support the partners in its development over time. As its funding comes to an end we have examined its overall legacy and have worked with the partners to produce an action plan to ensure the key learning from the work is not lost.
All Participative evaluation work »Evaluation of the Access to Nature Programme
Access to Nature is an England wide £25million grants scheme that is led by Natural England and which seeks to increase access to the natural environment for people and communities who have limited opportunities to engage with the outdoors. Icarus has developed an evaluation framework for the programme, advised on monitoring arrangements and has created a project self assessment methodology. Each year until 2013 we are producing a large summary evaluation report of progress and a second analysis of case study projects for this extensive and interesting programme.
All Participative evaluation work »East Riding Stakeholder Engagement Process
Icarus has been supporting the Environment Agency team responsible for developing the plans and strategies that will protect East Yorkshire from flooding. The Environment Agency needs to work with relevant communities and stakeholders in the region as it develops its strategic plans and plans the investment of millions of pounds over the coming years. Stakeholder Engagement plans have been developed with the team and ongoing support provided in designing and facilitating a series of stakeholder meetings in the area.
All Designing and delivering engagement processes work »