Bringing Belong in Plymouth to Life

In June 2023, the Belong in Plymouth team welcomed a filmmaker to capture stories from across the city. But this wasn’t just about documentation—it was about connection.

Karen Pilkington explained the thinking: “We have some interest from people in high places and low places… It’s important we gather people who have not had the time to get to know each other well.”

The filming coincided with a range of ongoing activities—sensemaking workshops, network experiments, and deepening ties with organisations like Changing Futures. “It was a meeting of two like-minded programs that share a system-change philosophy,” said Matt Bell.

In Stoke, a neighbourhood pilot was taking shape. Across the city, facilitators were exploring what it means to co-create without hierarchy. Behind the scenes, operations were improving, training was evolving, and the team was learning how to slow down and work relationally.

The filming process served as a mirror—inviting the team to reflect on how far they’d come and where they might go next. It also reinforced a key value: that storytelling isn’t separate from strategy—it is the strategy.

By capturing real conversations, the project is making the invisible visible. And in doing so, it’s showing what belonging looks like in motion: messy, brave, and full of heart.