Strategic Planning with Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group
About the Organisation
Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group is a volunteer-led non-profit supporting LGBT+ people going through the asylum system in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Since 2016, they’ve created welcoming spaces where members can connect, build confidence, and access vital information, all while pushing for greater inclusion in the region.
What They Needed
The Group had grown significantly, with membership and demand outpacing what their small volunteer team could manage. The Directors were looking for a way to step back, clarify their priorities, and ensure the organisation had the right structures and resources in place to meet future needs and keep their community focus at their heart.
They needed support to:
Identify clear strategic priorities for the next two years
Align those priorities with community needs and values
Design a practical operational framework that could support delivery, including recommendations around staffing, governance and structure.
What We Did Together
The project unfolded in three main phases, each building on the last.
1. Member consultation
I began by designing and facilitating a focus group with members of the Group. The aim was to hear directly from those using the service: what they valued, what they needed, and what could be improved. I used open-ended, accessible questions and a supportive facilitation style to ensure participants felt safe to share. Insights from this consultation helped shape the next stage of the process, ensuring the strategy would be grounded in real experiences rather than assumptions.
2. In-person strategy session
I then facilitated a half-day strategy session in Birmingham with the volunteer Directors and key members of the team. We used the consultation findings as a foundation to:
Clarify the group’s vision, mission, and values
Define the organisation’s aims for the next two years
Identify potential future services to meet member needs
Prioritise those services based on feasibility, impact and alignment with purpose
This session provided space for deep discussion, challenge and shared decision-making, helping the team move from ideas to collective clarity.
3. Operational review and recommendations
In the final phase, I reviewed what it would take to deliver on the strategic priorities, looking in detail at:
Organisational structure and legal model
Staffing and volunteer roles
Governance and leadership needs
Operational systems and processes
I developed a detailed report with clear, actionable recommendations. It was designed to support the Directors’ planning over the next two years, helping them grow the organisation in a sustainable and thoughtful way.
The Impact
The strategic framework and recommendations have given Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group a clearer path forward. They now have shared priorities, a stronger understanding of what their community needs, and practical tools to plan for growth.
One of the Directors said: "Flóra really listened to us, and had a clear understanding of both the organisation and of what we needed from the consultation process. She was able to work well with the volunteer team and our members, bringing everyone’s input together into a clear, concise and practical report. What we gained from the process was well worth the investment of our time and resources."
Thinking About Strategy or Structure?
If your organisation is looking for support with planning, governance or growth, I’d love to hear about your work. Let’s talk about what might help you move forward with confidence.