Knowledge Bank
Insights, evidence and ideas about relationships
Latest report: The Sense of Connection
This is a brittle Britain. Fragile, anxious and uncertain. Past the worst of the pandemic but not over it. Fearing the multiple costs of a hard winter.
There’s much we can learn from previous disasters about repairing and strengthening the social fabric. In this report, we draw on the expertise of the After Disasters Network in the crafts of disaster recovery and conflict transformation, and weave this together with all that we’ve learned from our own network about community development.
We share some steps that we might take together as we navigate the road ahead and we invite you to join us in understanding how to support strong and connected communities.
Other reports in the series
In March 2020, just before lockdown, we established The Relationships Observatory. Whilst none of us knew exactly what to expect at that time, it was already evident that our social behaviour was about to change. The Observatory is a simple mechanism for gathering insights and working to spot, support, embed and sustain the positives. We have been sharing the learning from The Observatory through a series of reports which now include:
The Moment We Noticed
Reporting on our learning from the first 100 days, we identify a set of shifting undercurrents in how we are behaving with one another
Turning to the Light
Reporting on the first year of the pandemic, we identify areas of light and areas of darkness and call for a hopeful reading of what is to come
Citizens Rising
Reporting two years on from the start of the pandemic, we share the perspectives and priorities of young people forgotten during the response
Active Neighbours Field Guide
Exploring the stories behind the statistics, we outline a set of ‘personas’ capturing the experiences, needs and motivations of ‘Covid volunteers’
We aim to turn insights and ideas about relationships into practical tools and guides which support with the application of relationship-centred practice. Take a look at our toolbox for resources on bridge building, relational councils and more.
Other reports and resources
Through Thick and Thin
Drawing on conversations with over 100 people, Iona Lawrence explores how an infrasturcture for relationships could unlock the collective action we need to accelerate progress towards a world designed for and around good relationships
The Relationship-Centred City
Imagine a city where relationships were the central operating principle. What would change? We explore the things that all of us can do to build better cities by building better relationships, in collaboration with 22 Londoners
Case Studies
There are lots of great examples of relationship-centred practice across different sectors, disciplines and regions. Our case studies celebrate and share a host of organisations and communities that are putting relationships first, to good effect
Featured: A World of Good Relationships
How are we to respond to the long tail challenges of Covid and to the injustices that it exposed? How to heal divided communities, to respect difference, trade fairly, care for the displaced, or share the natural world? How are we to live together? More than ever, the big questions in 2021 are all about relationships. Their substance and character will determine the direction and quality of our lives.
A World of Good Relationships sets out our long-term vision for a world built for and around relationships. We take stock of our learning to date, looking back on three years of listening, collaborating and building, and we invite you to join us on this journey to building a better society by building better relationships.