"If I can you Can Too!"
Case study - Solution Focus in the charity sector
Jan 10, 2021
A Global Chapter Meeting with Annette Gray and Peter McLean
Introduced by Andrew Gibson
With this simple premise, lives have been transformed in Australia, thanks to the Can Too Foundation. The Can Too Foundation works with a community of supporters who train their bodies and minds towards a goal event. While they benefit personally from this programme, they also give back to the Foundation through fundraising, and through supporting their fellow trainees. Annette Gray, SFiO Contributor, Australia, presents this workshop, with special guest Peter McLean, CEO of Can Too Foundation.
Annette decided to take on the challenge of a 2.8km open water swim. She had swum in open water before, however never on this scale, never so far from shore, and never as part of a massive community of like-minded and supportive people. In the process of swimming her event, she realised that the Can Too programme included many elements we would recognise as integral to Solution Focused Practice. For example:
The seemingly overwhelming goal is broken down into manageable components, making progress possible; There were lots of people playing different roles as part of a team; The sense of community was present throughout and continues to live on beyond the specific challenge.
As if the story itself isn’t reason enough to watch, the opportunity to extract learning from this film and apply it in or to organisations is exceptional.
If you would like to explore these, and many more amazing takeaways, please take time to view this video. And the latest figure placed on the Can Too Foundation’s fundraising to date? AU$ 23 million.
A great workshop, a great story, and inspiring from start to finish. Thank you, Annette, Peter, and all at Can Too!
Please find the slides Annette showed in this pdf.
Annette Gray
SFiO Reviewed Practitioner
InterAction Contributor
Chapter Head
SFiO Contributor
Annette is a Solution Focus coach, facilitator and speaker (based in Sydney Australia) on SF Coaching and Mentoring. She has trained over 7,000 managers and leaders to be more “coach like” and use a Solution Focused approach to how they have conversations that helps them achieve change fast. Annette has her own consulting business (Annette Gray Consulting) and has worked across many industries including: Construction, Education, Government, Banking and Finance. She is also a Mentor for Can Too ocean swim programs
Peter McLean
InterAction Contributor
Peter McLean is a not for profit specialist having led 5 Australian Charities in 4 sectors. He currently is CEO at the Can Too Foundation, a charity which trains participants to achieve goals in running and swimming events, while raising money for cancer research. Peter initially worked in State and Local Government before moving into the not-for-profit industry. Peter holds a degree in Environmental Management and is a Master in Business Administration. In Peter’s time leading charities, he has successfully strengthened organisations public profiles, community engagement, financial sustainability, social impact and capabilities to reach more people with better services, support and experiences. Peter is passionate about assisting and developing effective organisations to support better the communities they serve.
Andrew Gibson
InterAction Contributor
SFiO Contributor
Passionate advocate of SFP in Organisations, especially small businesses and charities. Specialising in helping people find clients and make a sustainable income from their activities. Always looking to help in a Single Session, whether it is a 121 conversation, a ‘Best Year Ever’ workshop, or a speech to help the audience find more referrals. Always looking for ways of applying SFP to help people make progress. Coach, facilitator, trainer, public speaker and author of ‘What’s Your URP?’ and ‘Make Life Simple’. Organiser of UK Northern SFiO Chapter, committee member of SFiO, and committee member of UKASFP