Antworks Community

Inspired by the collaborative power of ants, Antworks Community supports people working to build a better future.

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About

Welcome to our collaborative freelance social purpose consultancy service Antworks Community. Our mission is to provide high quality, value-based mentoring and practical support to individuals and organisations working to deliver social inclusion and social justice. We provide independent insight and encouragement to individuals and groups of people, at work or as volunteers, working for positive change for people and the environment.

Introducing Antworks Community founder Helen Jones

I’m an accidental community sector generalist. After spending my 20s raising children whilst working casually in fields and factories, I needed to work differently and took a community development worker role which became a founder/employee role very quickly. I have followed a pathway through many roles since then, including CEO, fundraiser, advisory panel member, partner and collaborator, researcher, grant-maker, trustee and co-author. My approach has been based on instinctive co-production and commitment to inclusion, driven by social curiosity. For me, the ‘D’ in Diversity invokes discovery and delight. I believe social change happens when we work with our neighbours and colleagues to create the changes we need.

In 2023 I recognised that I wanted more freedom to support projects that connect with my own sense of community and urgency about our future on this planet. It was time for me to ‘go freelance’! The name Antworks Community reflects my fascination with the enormous cooperative power of these small creatures. I hope to help people to deliver change in how we face the future together. During the ups and downs of community organising and change work I know that sometimes you have to ‘fly by the seat of your pants’. I want to help you to make sure your pants are made of Teflon!

Teflon pants sound fancy eh? But they are made from things like good planning and strategy, understanding your operating environment, ensuring good governance and best practice, managing people well, communicating effectively and making the best use of available resources, tools and equipment.

Whether you are an established charity CEO, CIC founder, working in an established role, or at the beginning of a new project you certainly need to be adaptable and quick to learn! As things develop the responsibilities grow too, but hopefully so does the opportunity to share tasks while refining the leadership and structure needed to sustain your vision. Most of all, I have found, it is your emotional connection to the work that helps you to keep adapting and learning new things.

Watch: Helen receives an honorary doctorate from Dundee University 2017