Making relationships the first mile

by Iona Lawrence, Immy Robinson and David Robinson | 17 May 2021 | Our thinking

After a year of research into simple, ordinary, human relationships, Iona Lawrence shared her initial findings in Through Thick And Thin. In this report, she illuminated a set of shared concerns, identified through hundreds of conversations around the state of our...

Observatory Sighting 13: Feeling for the future

by David Robinson | 15 Jan 2021 | Covid and Relationships

In this first Sighting of the New Year, we are stepping back and reflecting on the emotional drivers – the feelings as well as the practical experiences that will shape the future.

At the turning of the year

by David Robinson | 14 Dec 2020 | Dreams and Vision, Our thinking

In brief In this reflective piece, David Robinson looks back at the lessons we have learned in 2020 and what they might mean for the year ahead. Running off-road Politicians and policy people have always loved roadmaps, and so do many managers. It makes the journey...

Observatory Sighting #12: Lockdown blues

by David Robinson | 23 Nov 2020 | Covid and Relationships

In this, our twelfth Observatory Sighting, we share stories of ‘pissedoffness’ and explore some of the differences between this lockdown and the last one. “Pissedoffness” might not be in the dictionary but it pretty much captures the mood amongst several...

Making it real: Councils and communities working together

by David Robinson and Tony Clements | 21 Oct 2020 | Communities & Volunteering, Covid and Relationships, Relational Councils

In brief Continuing with the work on Developing the Framework for councils to support community action, David Robinson and Tony Clements invite you to share examples of changing council practices that ‘let people in’ and join the conversation about how...