The Relational Practice Academy
Unlocking the power of good relationships
Relationships are the bedrock upon which all else is built. How we relate to one another has an impact on everything we do and on everything we care about.
And yet, as a society, we undervalue good relationships, prioritising perceived efficiency over human connection.
We can learn to relate to one another better and how to transform situations and systems shaped by mistrust, power imbalance and division.
That’s why we’re building the Relational Practice Academy: a space for existing, emerging and next generation leaders to set course for a different future, to nurture the skills, design the policies and create the conditions that will bring about a world of good relationships.
“This work is of immense importance in these anxious and uncertain times. The Relational Practice Academy has a vital role to play.”
– Rt Hon Gordon Brown
Our curriculum
The Academy explores:
How do we bridge differences and build trust? Navigate and reshape power imbalances? Have challenging conversations in relational ways? Resolve and utilise conflict? Ensure relational approaches are equitable and safe for all? Recognise where a transaction is enough? What is the role of technology in relational practice? How to design relationships back into our systems and processes?
The programme is informed by the wisdom of thousands of relational practitioners and real life examples of what is possible. It is also underpinned by research, concepts and approaches drawn from academic disciplines, including social capital, social contact theory, conflict transformation, nonviolent communication, peacebuilding and mediation theory. But the principal aim isn’t to teach the theory. It is to support learners to put relationships into practice with tools and strategies that are evidence-based, tried and tested.
Wisdom and rebellion
Change across whole systems and communities is about individual behaviour and it is about the structural context which can design out, or design in, effective relationships. The Relational Practice Academy addresses both. To do that, we’re committed to long-form programmes for our learners. Why?
To change our own behaviour we need time to think it through, try things out and reflect. Behaviour change is compelled from within, plugging into the wisdom from our ancestors as much as our own instincts. We can’t develop this wisdom in one day or even a week of training.
At the same time, changing organisations is a painstaking process. Sustainable systemic change is essentially a radical effort and a team enterprise, overturning existing custom and practice, challenging processes and structures, creating and persuading. It is an act of rebellion.
Our curriculum stresses the symbiosis of this wisdom and rebellion.
Our first cohorts
We’re currently developing and testing year-long cohort programmes with:
Funders
Policymakers
Local Changemakers
Bridgebuilders
We are piloting Community Bridgebuilders programmes in Newcastle and Middlesbrough – bringing people together (from all walks of life but the same neighbourhood) to meet the challenges of loneliness, misunderstanding and division with curiosity, courage, creativity and conversation.
We’ll be reporting back here on progress and mistakes as we test and learn, as well as our plans to develop programmes for other sectors and specialisms. Want to be a part of a cohort, or have thoughts on areas we should prioritise? We’d love to hear from you at hello@relationshipsproject.org.
A Help Yourself pathway
We are also developing a Help Yourself pathway, open to anyone interested in relational practice. To be the first to hear about this, sign up to the Relationships Project newsletter.
Upcoming Opportunities
After a successful pilot in Newcastle, the Community Bridgebuilders programme came to Middlesbrough in January 2026. Watch the video to learn more. If you want to make your town a better and safer place, get in touch with Neil about bringing the programme to your community at Neil at neil@relationshipsproject.org.
A collaborative venture
We cannot do this work alone, nor would we wish to. Whether you have ideas, critiques, resources, are keen to help us deliver the curriculum, or have something else to offer, we’d love to hear from you.
The Relational Practice Academy has grown from the Relationships Project, a field builder committed to the belief that everything works better when relationships work well.
The Relationships Project is developing the Relational Practice Academy, in collaboration with others, to meet the need for training in relational practice.
