Involving Residents In Solutions is set up to develop positive change by consulting and involving people. We support individuals to share their experiences and then support them as a group to make decisions and plan by encouraging all participants to gain and share information.
Our role is to underpin solutions by providing research, organisational, and operational expertise. We gain an understanding of what is needed through consultation and collecting the voices of a community. The analysis provides the potential solutions and I.R.I.S. is able then to support the delivery of those solutions by supporting community members to engage with decision-makers and their decision-making processes. In this way all parties gain an understanding of what is needed to create change and own the solutions.
I.R.I.S. is a not-for profit organisation, a company limited by guarantee. Any profits are used to enhance projects undertaken and add value to the funding received.
We acquire information and ideas from:
- service users – by understanding the detail of their needs
- professionals – who have an interest or role to play in issues
- communities – who understand their environment
We aim to bring people together, making sure that any priorities raised are heard and go on to receive genuine, worthwhile improvements. We specialise in innovation; piloting and testing solutions.
Stella Man has directed the work at I.R.I.S. since 1997, and has many years of experience in providing training and support, ensuring the relevant people are engaged and skilled to develop what is required.
We employ free-lance professionals, staff and volunteers to deliver contacts. We provide volunteers with work experience and develop their skills. We strive to employ people and engage volunteers from the area local to the project being delivered. We gained a Community Education Award from Bristol City Council ‘in recognition of the positive impact the I.R.I.S. training had on participants and the wider community’.
IRIS trustees support the organisation’s development and oversee its financial and legal management. Current trustees are Caroline Standish, Tim Chandler and Penny Seume.
Stella Man
Stella has experience in all areas of organisational development from researching opportunities, writing business plans, working on the marketing and the finance to fundraising.
Stella is an artist, curator and event organiser.
She has an MA in Marketing and Market Research giving her a sound theoretical background, a BA Hons in Fine Art and Print providing a practised creative eye on the use of visual media, followed by over 20 years of experience delivering successful projects. With a wide network of contacts she can ensure quality delivery and partnership working with statutory, private, and voluntary organisations.
Once the project is underway, if she is employed as the project manager, she is able to initiate, organise and co-ordinate activities, staff, volunteers, and participants to meet objectives against deadlines and within budget. Many of the projects she has worked on have been given awards for ‘Best Value’ and excellence including awards from the Institute of Leisure and Amenities Management, Civic Trust, Bristol City Council, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Latest project delivered on behalf of Glenside Hospital Museum completed in March 2020.
Captured on Paper, was inspired by the 83 drawings of life in Bristol Mental Hospital in the 1950s, by Denis Reed, artist and patient. The drawings are part of the collection at Glenside Hospital Museum. Stella raised over £60,000 from the Museum Association Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund, Bristol City Council’s Imagination Fund and events to deliver exhibitions and workshops to engage a wide variety of people in discussion about mental health care. In addition, she gained a £10,000 grant from the Pilgrims Trust and the Association of Interdependent Museums to enable conservator Caroline Harrison to work on the drawings which were in danger of deteriorating having been glued to telephone directory paper and attached to non archival board with masking tape. Stella supported the team of 40 volunteers over three years to deliver the project.
For full details the final evaluation is attached: Evaluation7
I.R.I.S. 