Here is 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.
Round Robin Exercise
A co-design activity aimed at sparking imagination and developing ideas together, particularly from people who might be less inclined to speak out spontaneously. It ensures that everyone has an opport...
Map of Belonging
A visual representation of interconnected themes and factors influencing community connection and place-based well-being, derived from numerous community conversations. These factors are defined as pa...
People's Assemblies
Designed as unifying bodies to bring diverse community voices together, enabling everyone to feel heard, exercise democratic muscles, and feel more powerful. They are based on radical inclusivity, act...
Conversation Processing Workshops
Collaborative sessions designed to convert raw conversation fragments into measurable "factors" related to social isolation and loneliness, which are then mapped onto the "Map of Belonging". Participa...
Policies and procedures
Essential elements that provide clarity and certainty within an emergent and uncertain working environment. The sources suggest that how things are done – such as submitting and signing off proposals,...
Theatrical Performances
A creative outreach method used to engage communities, particularly in low-trust environments where traditional methods like leaflets fall flat. Performance pieces (e.g., an "escape room" themed aroun...
Insight Clustering / Sense-Making
The process of moving from individual story fragments to collective understanding by organizing insights into broader thematic headings. After gathering rich individual insights, groups collectively d...
Levels of Listening
A framework for understanding and consciously choosing where to place attention during listening, aiming to create empathy, learning, and reflective understanding. It distinguishes three levels
Collaboration handbook
This specific resource is not explicitly detailed in the provided sources. While there is discussion about the complexities and practices of collaboration, a formal "collaboration handbook" as a disti...
Modelling vulnerability
A practice of being real, exposed, and authentic in interactions, including sharing oneself and integrating personal reflection, to build deeper connections and foster psychological safety. This is pa...
Money pot
A method of allocating funds directly to specific groups of people rather than to rigid line items, to foster ownership and allow the group to decide on the deployment of resources for the benefit of ...
Asset-based community development and community organising
An approach that focuses on recognizing and building on the existing strengths, passions, and inherent assets within a community rather than solely on identifying problems. It empowers local people to...