I'll admit it, when I was offered the opportunity to join a new organisation called Collaborate eight years ago, I wasn't sure what it was all about. I'd spent the previous four years helping spearhead the Cooperative Council agenda in Lambeth by building a more equal relationship between the council and the community, so perhaps it should have been more obvious. But collaboration seemed like a new word, applied in a new way, and to found an entire organisation dedicated to progressing the thinking, culture and practice of collaboration across public services seemed…well, a stretch.

However, I knew the fledgeling organisation was already working with some creative councils and I had faith in the instincts of its founder, Lord Victor Adebowale – so of course I hopped on board.