This category showcases the practical side of our work — the exercises, methods, and frameworks that help us listen better, design thoughtfully, and work more effectively. From listening practices to co-design techniques, these posts highlight the tools that support meaningful collaboration and reflection in community settings.
Rethinking Long-Term Funding and Partnerships
Funding conversations can feel dry—but they reveal everything about how power, trust, and long-term impact work. That’s why we’ve been having honest discussions with funders and local partners about ...
People's Assembly in Stonehouse Sparks Conversations
Stonehouse recently hosted a People's Assembly—and we were reminded just how powerful it is when people come together in their own neighbourhoods to talk about what matters most. One attendee shared,...
Exploring Timebanks and Youth Volunteering in Stonehouse
Not all community support has to look like formal volunteering. Sometimes, it’s a lift to the shops. Or walking someone’s dog. Or sharing tools. That’s why we’re exploring models like timebanks—syste...
New Ways to Support Freelancers
Jelly South West began as a simple idea: create free coworking spaces where freelancers and home-based workers could connect. But it’s grown into something deeper—a community of mutual support that t...
Coworking Builds Belonging
At first glance, Jelly South West might not look like part of Belong in Plymouth. It’s a coworking community for freelancers and small businesses. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear: this is belo...
Building Neighbourhood Networks from Stonehouse
Stonehouse isn’t the only part of Plymouth that’s hungry for more connected neighbourhoods—but it’s been one of the most active. Through people’s assemblies, themed conversations, and informal gather...
Addressing Stonehouse Concerns: Dog Mess to Green Space
If you spend time in Stonehouse, you’ll hear the same things pop up in conversations: too much dog mess, not enough bins, neglected green spaces, and a sense that some parts of the neighbourhood get o...
Building Everyday Belonging
The idea of a “care economy” keeps showing up in our conversations—not just as policy, but as practice. As Karen Pilkington put it, “If community groups aren’t funded properly, they can’t keep their ...
Rethinking Social Prescribing as an Ecosystem
In our conversations about social prescribing, something kept coming up: it’s not enough to send people to community groups if those groups are barely staying afloat. Karen Pilkington put it bluntly:...
Belonging Happens Neighborhood by Neighborhood
One of our biggest experiments so far has been our neighbourhood pilot in Stoke. It started with a simple question: what if we focused deeply on one local area? Karen Pilkington led the way: “I’m bot...
Beyond Referrals: Enhancing Social Prescribing
Social prescribing has been praised as a bridge between health services and community life. But what happens when the bridge has no foundation? Belong in Plymouth’s Core Team has been grappling with ...
The Limits of Social Prescribing
Social prescribing has been a hot topic in Belong in Plymouth discussions—but not without critique. In early 2023, team members revisited the model’s limitations. Karen Pilkington summed it up: “If t...