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A future search conference is a way for a community or organisation to create a shared vision for its future. It enrols a large group of stakeholders, that is, people who are affected by the outcomes or have power or information on the topic at hand.
Ideally there are 64 people, who form eight tables of eight stakeholder groups. Examples of such groups are health, young people or shopkeepers.
A future search conference has many benefits:
- The ‘whole system’ is in the room – the event brings together everyone with a stake in the issue. This produces a rich mixture of information and ideas. Proposals are more likely to be acted upon if all stakeholders feel committed to them.
- Hearts and minds - people are encouraged to explore what they feel about an issue, as well as what they think about it.
- Common ground emerges – as the event widens people’s horizons. From this common ground is created a shared vision that can inspire participants for years afterwards.
- Energy - people are energised by sensing common ground with other people and agreeing concrete actions and next steps to make the vision come about.
- Profile – bringing 64 people together for two and a half days is a major event.
The future search can be held over one or two days takes place in five stages:
1. Review the past - Each participant writes key events for themselves, the community and the world onto three time lines.
2. Explore the present - An enormous mind map is made of trends. Stakeholder groups identify important trends. Groups share their 'prouds' and 'sorries'.
3. Create ideal future scenarios - Mixed small groups develop visions. Barriers to the visions are identified. Each group acts out its vision to everyone else.
4. Identify shared vision - Small groups, then the whole group, work out the shared vision, projects to achieve it and any unresolved differences.
5. Make action plans - Self-selected action groups plan projects and publicly commit to their actions.
Recent clients using the future search conference include:
- Emda (East Midlands Development Agency)
- NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) Futurelab
- Sport England
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