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 council...
Journal
Understanding System Shifts
We talk a lot about ‘system change’—but what does that actually look like in Plymouth? For us, it means starting where we are: building relationships, noticing patterns, and sharing power. System sh...
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...
Ripple Effect: Reconnecting Generations in Plymouth
We’ve been thinking a lot about who we spend time with—and who we don’t. So we launched Ripple Effect, an intergenerational project bringing people together across age groups in the heart of Plymouth...
Youth Voice: Rewriting the Invitation
In January 2023, the Belong in Plymouth team revisited a familiar challenge: how can young people have real influence in shaping their city? “Youth influence has waxed and waned,” Matt Bell noted, ec...
Engaging and Retaining Young People
In January 2023, Belong in Plymouth turned its focus to a crucial question: how can young people have a real say in city-wide decisions? “Youth influence has waxed and waned,” Matt Bell acknowledged....
Sprint Reviews — Balancing Reflection and Action
In January 2023, our Sprint 3 Review became a moment of honest reflection—and raised a powerful tension in the room. “It’s a safe place to articulate what we often suppress,” one participant said. Pe...
Staying Honest About Change
At our Sprint 3 Review in January 2023, someone voiced a worry: “I’m concerned we’re becoming a talking shop. Where’s the tangible progress?” That tension—between reflection and movement—is real for ...
Reimagining Youth Voice
On 27 January 2023, we took a fresh look at how young people are invited into decision-making in Plymouth. “Youth influence has waxed and waned,” Matt Bell reflected, noting that we’ve been here befo...
Revisiting Youth Voice: It Matters
Youth voice has come up time and time again in Belong in Plymouth—and in January 2023, we returned to the challenge with fresh determination. “Youth influence has waxed and waned,” Matt Bell acknowle...
Practicing Consent-Based Decisions
In our many-to-many working group, we’ve been experimenting with consent-based decision-making. It’s not always easy—but it’s changing the way we work together. Instead of aiming for total agreement...
Exploring Collaborative Networks
When it comes to tackling complex challenges like loneliness, inequality, and system change, there’s no single leader or linear fix. That’s why we’ve been exploring what we call “many-to-many” collab...