Strategic Pillars

While our strategic themes are Knowledge Equity, Digital Literacy, and Climate and Environment, the strategic pillars that underpin successful delivery across all areas of our work are:

• A positive legislative environment for open knowledge in the UK
• A thriving national and international community
• Equity, diversity and inclusion embedded across the organisation
• Organisational resilience and sustainability
• Public profile and recognition of the organisation and Wikimedia projects

In support of our strategic pillars, we participate in expert networks across the wider Wikimedia network, such as the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (GLAM) group, Executive Director group, Affiliates Fundraising group and Let’s Connect. In addition, we draw on informal networks and connections made by staff and trustees across the movement, where we can receive or give advice, or support training activities.

Through our outreach and volunteer engagement we continue to support a thriving national and international community; 1,135 new editors engaged with Wikimedia UK in 2022-23, and 100% of volunteers would recommend volunteering at Wikimedia UK. These snapshots are from our annual Leaders Survey, giving us insight into the community we engage with.

Public profile and recognition can be measured in a number of ways. We worked across 56 strategic partnerships in 2022-23, our social media following increased, and we reached 50,000 people. Organisational resilience is supported by our Board, chaired by Monisha Shah; members bring their skills to support our governance, strategic direction and sustainability. In 2022, the Wikimedia Summit Berlin was attended by Wikimedia UK trustee Caroline Ball, who shared her thoughts in Rebecca O’Neill’s ‘World According to Wikipedia’ podcast:

With contributions from trustees, senior staff and invited experts, we hold regular reviews to focus on the pillars’ performance, risks and opportunities in our Audit and Risk Committee, Governance Committee, and the newly formed Community Development Committee.

Looking at the next stages of our organisation development, we have recently restructured our Programmes and Evaluation team to support further expansion for new projects. Additional investment for 2023-24 was signed off by the Board to deliver a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, allowing streamlining and automation of current processes and further opportunities to develop our connections and relationships with donors and volunteers.