Blog – Inside Iriss

a group of people in discussion around a long table with one person holding a photo

When all the bees get together

Tuesday 17 February 2026

For me, the first part of learning week is putting my out-of-office response on. Iriss is closed for our annual learning week, it says.

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join the iriss board

Leading innovation: Join our Board!

Tuesday 9 September 2025
We’re looking for curious, thoughtful people to join our Board. 
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a tree with colourful strip lights running along the branches

Neurodiversity: the clue is in the name

Wednesday 3 September 2025
As neurodiverse people, it has been a joy to see the recent rise in awareness and acceptance of how different brains work.
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A group of maps on a table

Maps and mountains

Monday 30 June 2025
The map is not the territory The last time I tried to climb a mountain I failed spectacularly. It was a warm August at the foot of the mountain, and a freezing January higher up.
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a white board behind a meeting table with chairs and stationary

What did we learn from our Learning Week?

Wednesday 12 February 2025
Learning Week is over at Iriss now.
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an acoustic guitar

Evaluation - Invisible String

Tuesday 11 February 2025
As part of our learning week we had a day where we focused on our internal evaluation process, as well as how we can better use the data we already collect to show our impact to partners and…
Inside Iriss
a train crosses a river reflected in the waters seurface

Exploring the intersections of our work 

Tuesday 11 February 2025
In a fast-paced environment, the instinct can be to act quickly, but without a shared understanding of where we have been, we could move in directions that are not fully aligned or as effective as
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bench

Making Time 

Tuesday 11 February 2025
As a Development Lead with Iriss, I spend a lot of time thinking about time.
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picture of a bell

Ringing Bells

Thursday 14 November 2024
Earlier this month, as part of a project we are working on in the ethical commissioning space, we met with a team of care home managers.
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Creating Care Partnerships project mini logo

Research alongside social care practice

Tuesday 27 August 2024
Back in 2009, I was a fresh faced researcher, working as an intern in the Office of the Chief Researcher in the Scottish Government.
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a green door with a bicycle

Why should I care about ethical commissioning?

Monday 19 August 2024
“What matters isn’t if people are good or bad. What matters is if they’re trying to be better today than they were yesterday. You asked me where my hope comes from? That’s my answer.” Michael ‘The…
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a greenfield with a twisting river

Change – the only constant?

Tuesday 6 August 2024
We have been reflecting on our last year (and more) and looking forward to this year and our future, and it got me thinking about change. We (people not just Iriss) talk a lot about how we need…
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Image of coloured arrows in a forest

What’s getting in your way?

Monday 22 July 2024
I’m a third of the way through the practice hours needed for accreditation with the International Coaching Federation after
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The Barracks

Co-production in Canada

Tuesday 9 July 2024
Over the last 10 years we have been lucky to have an ongoing relationship with the Regional Municipality of Durham and
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a purple lanyard with the iriss logo

A Day with Iriss: reflecting on our conference

Tuesday 25 June 2024
Last week, we hosted our annual conference - A day working with Iriss.
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lightbulbs with glowing filament

Care Visions workshop

Monday 24 June 2024
About the session This session (at the new Social Hub, highly recommended!) brought together a group of managers from Care Visions child
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lightbulbs hanging

A coaching approach

Friday 10 May 2024
Last Autumn I started a coaching course with the Institute of Coaching Studies.
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Ideas Lab participants

The learning behind the Lab 

Friday 15 March 2024
If you’re familiar with Iriss work, you will know that we have had projects running for a year in three thematic areas - Space to Practice
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ASPire

Holly and Sam reflect on the recent ASPire conference

Monday 11 March 2024
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Co-production planner

Goodbiriss

Thursday 29 February 2024
Today is a big day for me, my last day working at Iriss. I wanted to spend some time reflecting on my journey with the organisation.
Inside Iriss

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