From Inspiration To Impact
Thresholds Founder And CEO Explains The Journey Of The Crossing Thresholds Programme.
Thresholds is a leading provider of career support for women in the UK civil service. Our flagship ‘Crossing Thresholds’ programme has helped many thousands of women gain clarity on their career goals while developing essential skills, confidence and capabilities to achieve them.
Have you ever wondered how it started and how Crossing Thresholds became such an iconic programme? In this blog, Thresholds founder and CEO Fiona McInnes-Craig shares the impulse behind Crossing Thresholds and how her commitment to supporting women in achieving their ambitions sparked the programme's inception and continues to drive its mission today:
If I Could Do Anything At All, What Would It Be?
For those who have been on Crossing Thresholds, you’ll recognise this question! Some years ago, I found myself in a unique position to explore new possibilities following the conclusion of several long-term coaching contracts. I envisioned a space where women could come together to encourage, challenge and support each other to clarify and pursue their goals. I named it 'Women at a Threshold' and began by inviting people I already knew were contemplating career transitions or growing their own businesses. It had five lightly structured sessions, with lots of opportunities for the women to think freshly, play with ideas and give each other useful feedback.
The Desire To Support More Women
After trialling several open programmes and getting lots of positive feedback, I felt ready to take it to the world! One of my promotional flyers landed on the desk of the newly appointed gender champion at the Ministry of Defence in Bristol, who was looking for just such a programme. Over the next six months we ran a series of programmes in MoD bases around the UK - quite a novelty in such a male-dominated organisation! This propelled Thresholds into the spotlight, as the programme gained high level support and featured in several staff publications. The impact on participants was such that the MoD put it forward for the prestigious Public Sector Opportunity Now Award, for which it was “Highly Commended”.
Stay Focused On Your Vision And Don’t Be Afraid To Try New Things
Thresholds' early journey involved refining our modules through trial, feedback and refinement - a method we continue to employ today. Women often strive for perfection and avoid risking failure, but listening and experimenting enabled us to hone the programme's structure to include facilitated discussions, group and pair coaching, individual assignments and working with a mentor.
What Makes Thresholds Unique?
At Thresholds, we seek partnerships with organisations genuinely committed to enabling women’s career goals. Not just promotion but whatever these might be, even if it is leaving the civil service to do something completely different. In a sector where many diversity and leadership programmes have faded, our enduring presence is testament to our genuine commitment to our participants' success.
This ethos has guided our actions, allowing us to build a reputation as the go-to organisation for women wanting time and support to consider what they want in their working lives. Our team members genuinely care about the people we work with, consistently going the extra mile. We've never compromised on quality, and that's something I'm truly proud of. The word-of-mouth recommendations speak volumes about our reputation. People are eager to join because they've heard firsthand about the impact we've had on others' lives. For over 15 years on average 76% of participants have achieved their career goals within a year of completing the programme. This approach has established Thresholds as a trusted partner across the whole civil service.
Community Focus
As I reached retirement age and pulled back from the day to day management of the company, I’ve taken the time to focus more on my local community of Bristol. I was struck by the city's stark racial disparities despite outward appearances of integration. Research by the Runnymede Trust revealed Bristol as the UK's most racially unequal city in relation to education, employment and income. At the same time, the city has been facing up to its history, not least the extent to which its wealth is built on the exploitation of enslaved Africans. All of this informed a company decision to use our profits to support cultural and entrepreneurial initiatives to benefit Black Bristolians.
Telling Stories
Admitting my ignorance was key. I therefore asked people of African heritage what they would like to see happening. One of the most poignant responses was “People like you understanding the lived experiences of people like me.” These words came to life shortly afterward when I attended a theatre performance titled ‘Shades of Our Lives,’ crafted by a group of six women calling themselves ‘Black Women Let Loose.’ The show was raw, poignant, and laced with a dark humour that resonated deeply with the mostly Black audience and gave White audience members much to reflect on. Witnessing this, I felt. it was a project I wanted to support. Our funding meant they could expand their reach, taking their production to new venues and conducting workshops with schools. Another theatre group we supported to get their story out was the Malcolm X Elders, an amazing bunch of ‘Windrush’ women who had produced a lively and humbling performance about their experiences coming to the UK from Jamaica.
Reparations Not Philanthropy
I see our financial contribution as Reparations - acknowledging historical injustices and supporting initiatives often overlooked by mainstream funding. There's a pervasive culture in philanthropy where money earns people positions of influence they haven't earned through their actions alone. I prefer to help amplify the voices of the artists and activists who dedicate their lives to community causes with little recognition or compensation. These individuals run youth clubs, make films, run festivals and campaign alongside their jobs and families for decades. They deserve the spotlight for their incredible contributions.
How Do You Decide Who to Support?
We focus on small organisations making significant impacts, who can’t access funds from large funding entities like the Lottery, Arts Council, or major foundations. Projects like ACE, which takes inner city youth on transformative retreats in the countryside, Black Mothers Matter whose goal is to eliminate the racial disparities in maternal health and childbirth, and CARGO Classroom who provide relatable learning materials which illuminate African history and achievement
If you're curious about the initiatives Thresholds supports, stay tuned as we'll be featuring some of them over the next few weeks.
Alternative Education Opportunities
There are increasing numbers of families in Bristol who are sending their children to alternative child-centred educational settings. For the past four years Thresholds has been providing bursaries to families of African heritage who wish to access these opportunities.
How Does it Feel Reflecting on the Thresholds Journey?
Reflecting on this journey fills me with immense pleasure. It’s gratifying to see the positive impact we've made on so many people's lives. It’s a testament to the dedication and unwavering commitment of our team.
Fiona's reflections on her career journey show the value of taking time to look back. Why not take a moment to reflect on your own path? What could you discover about yourself and your aspirations?
Take some time today to reflect on your journey. You might be surprised at what you uncover!
