Aisling Discoveries provides responsive services and programs to give children, youth and their families the skills and knowledge they need not just to cope, but to thrive.

We began working with the organization is 2017. At the time, Aisling Discoveries had no dedicated staff or unified resources to support their communications within the organization and out in the community.

Our first undertaking together was an in-depth audit of both internal and external communication practices and tools. We examined all existing materials and distilled insights from over 50 individual and group interviews with frontline staff, managers and directors, community partners and families. Our final report provided recommendations addressing all aspects of communication ranging from gaps in key messaging to day-to-day challenges of an organization with multiple locations and many different evolving programs and services.

As a result of the report and its findings, a number of changes were put into action to improve organization, including the hiring of a full-time communications manager. Our report was also recognized by Accreditation Canada’s review team as a comprehensive and helpful document, “outlining key areas of focus and providing a great frame of reference and road map for the organization”.

Following the audit, we led the process to create Aisling Discoveries’ new vision, mission and values – the foundation for their other communication efforts. The organization needed to better reflect its reason-for-being and messaging had to meaningful and accessible for their many stakeholders. Over 240 staff and board members were engaged in a collaborative visioning activity during the annual general meeting. We also did in-person sessions, phone interviews and online questionnaires to ensure the new messaging and values would capture the organization’s important work and goals and resonate with its community.

We’ve continued to support Aisling Discoveries in tackling a variety of communication needs. We completed a brand refresh, together we are developing a communications toolkit and much more. Through the creation of the annual reports, we’ve interviewed staff and families, developed content including new program descriptions and service diagrams and organized photoshoots of programs and clients. These documents have gone beyond traditional report and serve as important tools for outreach, on-boarding, partnership development and fundraising. During the recent review process by Accreditation Canada, the external team recognized and highlighted the annual reports as “strong documents”.

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organizational communication audit
staff & stakeholder engagement
mission, vision and values
brand refresh
stationery
annual reports (print and digital, AODA compliant)
copy writing
photography
outreach materials