The following journal entries were either written by Simon Sherbersky or were generated by AI trained on all the team communication over the project's duration. Any AI generated posts are clearly marked with a disclaimer.
The Stage is Set: Why Creative Storytelling is your Secret Weapon in Low Trust Communities
We've all been there: you design the perfect leaflet, book the ideal venue, and wait... and wait. In communities burdened by a history of unfulfilled promises – places like "The Forgotten Land" on the...
The Unseen Thread: Mastering the Art of invitation in Community Building
In the intricate dance of community building, where trust can be fragile and has to be earned, the art of the invitation emerges as a critical skill. It's more than just sending out a notice; it's abo...
Belong in Plymouth Neighbourhood Co Creation Learning:
In the world of co-creation and community-led change, a fundamental truth quickly becomes apparent: meeting people where they are, being focussed on the range of needs and aptitudes and constantly ada...
The Unspoken Power of the Circle: Building Connection and Trust, One Yarn at a Time
In our work to bring communities together and ignite collective action, we've repeatedly witnessed the profound impact of a simple, ancient shape: the circle. It might seem obvious, but there's an und...
Beyond the Brain: How Embodied Connection Fuels Collective Action
We've all sat in meetings, staring at charts and data, trying to make sense of complex problems. But what if understanding wasn't just about intellect, but about feeling? What if true collective actio...
The Alchemy of Three: Deepening Connection and Unlocking Insights Through Shared Stories
In our journey of co-design, moving from the tangible "Map of Belonging" to truly understanding what mattered to individuals required a deeper dive. It wasn't enough to just see the themes; we needed ...
Learning by Doing: Growing Contributions and Confidence Through Shared Stories
Our journey of deepening understanding through Three-Way Sharing took a natural pause during the half-term break. Many of our participants are parents of younger children, and we wanted to ensure ever...
Beyond Individual Stories: Weaving Insights into a Collective Tapestry
We've explored the profound power of Three-Way Sharing, witnessing how uninterrupted stories and collaborative distillation can build deep connection and unearth powerful individual insights. But how ...
Revealing the shared narrative: Discovering the Tapestry of Belonging
By Week Seven of our co-design journey, something truly powerful began to emerge. After weeks of deep sharing and individual insight gathering within our five separate groups, it was time to reveal th...
Beyond Problems: Framing Challenges to Unlock Solutions
We've journeyed through deep listening, individual storytelling, and the collective sense-making of clustered insights. Now, with a rich tapestry of understanding at our fingertips, the crucial next s...
Articulating Solutions with Cover Story Mock-ups
In Week 10 of our journey, we tackled a crucial step in bringing our ideas to life: transforming our "How Might We" (HMW) statements into concrete projects or proposals. And we did it in a wonderfully...
Creating and sharing the interconnected story of community led action: By the people for the people
For 14 incredible weeks, Barne Barton and St Budeaux have been on a journey of discovery, connection, and co-creation. Through an inclusive co-design process, we've listened deeply, shared openly, an...
Making and Taking the Time: The Unsung Hero of Neighbourhood Co-Creation
As we draw this series of learning blogs to a close, it feels right to reflect on perhaps the most significant challenge and opportunity in neighbourhood co-creation: making and taking the time. Our j...
From Shared Stories to Community Action: The True Shift in Co-Creation
Our 14-week co-design journey in Barne Barton and St Budeaux culminated in its most vital phase: the shift from co-creating an interconnected story to actually starting to deliver that story and make ...