Weekly Updates: A Quiet Game-Changer
In June 2023, Matilde floated an idea that seemed small at first: “As many of us have limited time, I thought… sharing weekly updates might be more accessible.” That simple suggestion turned into one...
Journal
Building Relational Work — Even When Messy
On 31 May 2023, Matt Bell dropped a message into our thread that captured the spirit of our journey: “Love this coming together. Just musing… and connecting.” We were juggling so many moving parts—st...
Rethinking Onboarding
Joining a big, multi-layered project like Belong in Plymouth can feel overwhelming—especially if you’re new. That’s why we’ve been reworking how we bring people in. As Stuart Jones said: “We often fo...
Rebalancing Power Through Trust
A key question we keep returning to is: how do we share power in a way that builds—not breaks—trust? That’s the heart of our many-to-many work. It’s not just about structures. It’s about relationship...
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 ...
Designing Usable Governance Tools
Let’s be honest—governance tools aren’t always the most exciting part of a project. But what if they could be? In our many-to-many group, we’ve been designing and testing playful governance tools—car...
Effective Community Workshops That Work
Hosting community workshops sounds simple—until you try to make them truly inclusive, practical, and human. At Belong in Plymouth, we’ve been learning by doing. In St Budeaux and beyond, we started w...
From Stories to Systems Understanding
What began as a project to understand Emergency Department (ED) use in Plymouth quickly expanded into something deeper. We weren’t just collecting stories—we were beginning to trace the systems behind...
Building a Community Research Network
Over the past year, our community researcher network has grown into something powerful—and deeply human. It's not just about collecting stories. It's about creating the conditions for care, curiosity,...
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...