Local Pilot, Big Lessons

The idea was simple: what if we tested Belong in Plymouth’s methods in one neighbourhood, deeply and slowly?

In early 2023, a pilot took shape in Stoke. Karen Pilkington began connecting with councillors, business owners, residents, and local organisations—not with a set agenda, but with an open invitation to collaborate.

“I’m both excited and anxious,” she shared. “I don’t know if folks have the time or interest—but I believe in the potential.”

The project drew on insights from across the network. Rather than imposing a new structure, it sought to amplify what was already working. A key learning? Relationship-building can’t be rushed. “Sometimes the meeting is the work,” said one participant.

The pilot also sparked wider reflections. Could this neighbourhood approach be replicated elsewhere? What kind of support do local connectors need? How do we measure impact without reducing the work to metrics?

This wasn’t about scaling quickly. It was about learning deeply. And what emerged was a sense that real system change starts small—on a single street, between two neighbours, over a cup of tea.

As Belong in Plymouth continues to grow, the Stoke pilot reminds us that belonging doesn’t happen in abstract—it happens in place.