Putting Relationships First

The case for relationship-centred communities, organisations and systems

Few people argue that relationships don’t matter, but many feel they don’t have the time, capacity or permission to prioritise them. This Case Maker assembles the evidence base for putting relationships first, describing why relationships matter, what great relationship-centred practice looks like, and how it could make an impact in your context.

Use it to…

• Deepen your understanding of the difference that putting relationships first makes in a range of different contexts and scales
• Develop your own narrative of why more investment in relationships will lead to better outcomes in your community or organisation
• Start a discussion and build awareness around the value of relationship-centred practice amongst your team

Rewatch the Launch

On 22nd April Elizabeth Oldfield and Matt Lloyd-Rose were joined by a few of the brilliant people who shared their stories in the Case Maker, namely Sarah Yardley, Christine Frazer and Russ Bellenie. It was a warm, lively and engaging conversation, elevated by some brilliant questions from those who joined us. 

In the Case Maker you’ll find…

Better relationships, better outcomes

Good relationships are good for us, we feel better, we live longer and we contribute more. There is no task in adult life, public or personal, which is not done better with an enhanced understanding of relational skills – how to collaborate, how to manage bias and power and parity of esteem, how to forgive, negotiate difference and resolve conflict. Everything works better when we do these things well.

Relationship-Centred Practice in action

Across the UK and beyond, there are many brilliant examples of relationships making a difference. We’ve compiled a set of stories which illustrate what can happen when we put relationships first. The stories represent different scales, sectors, geographies and types of organisation: from business to community group to charity to large state institution. They are not templates to follow, but rather accounts of some of the relational work that has inspired us. Between them they exemplify many of the key themes, practices and possibilities in relational working, as well as many common barriers and challenges.

We hope these stories provoke thoughts, spark ideas and push the boundaries of what you think is possible.

The Relationships Map

We think that the stories told in this Case Maker are good stories, full of hope and kindness and a special kind of ‘can-do’ spirit, but they are not islands. All over the UK and indeed further afield, relational practice is gathering momentum. The contexts are diverse, as they are here in the Case Maker, but the driving principles are consistent.

On the Relationships Map we have begun to plot the organisations and individuals who are putting relationships first. The Map is more than a directory. It’s a meeting place; a space for finding one another and sharing ideas and resources. Please put your story on the Map, find kindred spirits and help to spread the word.

Making your case

We hope, having engaged with the statistics and stories in this Case Maker, that you’re convinced that everything works better when relationships are put first. And we hope that you feel better equipped to make the case to your colleagues, board members and commissioners that everything works better when relationships are valued. 

Here are a few things you can do to turn common sense into common practice in your community, organisation or system…