The Relationships Collective
A servant leader group helping to shepherd the growth of the field
At the end of 2022, we recruited The Relationships Collective: a group of 9 individuals who together represent just some of the brilliant, enthusiastic, creative and diverse people who are pioneering a relationship-centred future. We were overjoyed by the interest and whilst it was an incredibly difficult decision, we are delighted with where we have landed.
Over the next 18 months, The Collective will support with our efforts to turbocharge the growth of the field of relationship-centred practice. Together we’ll be advocating, networking, convening, coordinating and tackling the many challenges and opportunities for making relationships the first mile, not the extra mile.
Introducing The Relationships Collective
Fiona Carden
Joint CEO and Director of Learning, Exeter CoLab
“I am excited to look up and out beyond the day to day opportunities and challenges presented by my work, to a wider world of ideas and really explore the idea of ‘breaking new ground’. I am interested in exploring relationships beyond our work; friends, family and with ourselves. I am also curious about how our cultural values inform and shape our relationships and am keen to explore the impact of values based practice.”
Halima Khan
Independent adviser, Affiliated Researcher at the Bennett Institute of Public Policy, Board Member at Mayday Trust
“Relationships are the engine at the heart of social change – they give us a sense of belonging, purpose, confidence and hope. All of which are vital for people to flourish and communities to thrive. So I’m very excited to be joining eight brilliant co-pilots of The Relationships Collective and the supporting team at The Relationships Project. I’m looking forward to a journey powered by curiosity and optimism as we take some steps forward individually and together.”
Verity Howorth
Director of Training at the academy trust Reach Foundation
“I am thrilled to be part of the Relationships Collective because it represents an opportunity to bring currently disparate but like-minded folks together who believe the world could be so much better if we all put relationships right at the heart of our respective work. I think there is much to be gained from taking time to reflect on our own practice, being curious about expertise from other sectors and sussing out where there is energy to create change for a more compassionate, sustainable future.”
Joe Micheli
Head of Communities at York Council
“Personally, I believe, it is not enough for us to reorganise, we need to recentre our approaches and continue to shift the dial on growing the evidence base for relational approaches. The Collective offers a space and profile for this invaluable work to evolve, change culture and mindsets and gain deeper traction. I fundamentally believe that the simple human bonds between us are the foundations of good lives, reflecting the importance of relationships and this should be a world and cultural norm that we are all striving for.”
Farrah Nazir
Insights and Learning on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Wellcome Trust, Co-founder of New Fables Collective
“Building and strengthening relationships is both an integral and longstanding part of my practice – I believe there is so much more to learn, share and imagine what’s possible when our work is driven by relationship centred practice. I’m excited to be part of a collective of practitioners in this space to both explore and champion this work together.”
Elizabeth Oldfield
Coach, Facilitator, Writer and Host of The Sacred
“I am excited to be part of the Relationships Collective because relationships are the very heart of a healthy life and a healthy society and yet we spend so little direct time and attention on them. To gather with eight other relationships nerds and work out how we might contribute to changing that sounds amazing.”
Brigid Russell
Coach and Leadership Consultant, Co-Convenor of Spaces for Listening
“We learn best in relationship alongside each other, understanding and valuing our many different ways of knowing and being together. That’s why I am so excited to be a part of The Relationships Collective – so that we can share ideas, experiences, and learning about what makes relationships really work and how.”
Mel Smith
Deputy CEO at Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire
“I am chuffed to be part of the Relationships Collective, it’s vital that we work towards a world that prioritises relationships. From the small relational things that nurture friendships and joy to being wholly intentional about the design of tactics and strategy to build relationships that can respond to wider systemic issues. Let’s do this!”
Sarah Yardley
Associate Professor in Palliative Medicine & Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine, UCLH and Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust
“All my work is driven by the belief that we need to redeem the role of relationships in healthcare and reclaim relationships as a legitimate part of systems change, not a “nice if you can” add-on. Finding a group of people who don’t just believe this but who are actually working to put it into practice as a core value in different ways, places and for different purposes is great!”
What is this for?
By bringing this group together we hope to:
1. Support these brilliant people to do even more of the relational working and advocacy around relational approaches they already do
2. Explore real challenges and opportunities that we all face as relationship-centred practitioners
3. Identify areas for collective, practical action to push the field forwards and make putting relationships first the norm, not the exception.
Take a look at the full job description below.
What’s the deal?
1. We are providing each member of The Collective with a monthly stipend of £500 (inc. VAT) for the full 18 months of this pilot. This is a contribution towards their day to day work as advocates of relationship-centred working as well as their time meeting with and developing plans with fellow Collective members
2. The Relationships Project’s small team are supporting The Collective. From organising get-togethers to project managing the plans that emerge, we will be the supporters of The Collective to ensure that the members get the most out of the experience and their skills and expertise are put to the greatest use.
3. It is our hope that by being part of The Collective, members will be supported to develop their relationship-centre thinking and practice alongside others who share a commitment to relationships
Our 2 year plan for a 20 year vision
Relationships: An idea to organise around?
In brief In this - our second blog exploring the field of relationships - Iona Lawrence and Immy Robinson ask for your help in finding something we can all gather around. You can read the first blog, which lays out what we're up to, here. A few weeks ago we wrote...
Share your #SpiritOfLockdown
In brief The Relationships Project and Local Area Coordination Network have teamed up to surface, share and celebrate stories of lockdown from all across the country. How have your relationships changed through Covid? What’s the Spirit you want to bottle to guide your...
Developing the Framework: An update
In brief In July, we published 'Developing the Framework'; an extended blog written by Tony Clements which lays out 10 ways in which local authorities can help community engagement to thrive. In this follow up blog, Tony reflects on the subsequent discussion we hosted...
Including the network perspective in a relationship-centred practice
In brief In this Joining the Dots blog, founder of the Reliants Project Erica Young argues for the importance of including a network perspective in relationship-centred thinking and practice. Citing some of the leading researchers in the field, she outlines how...
A Relationships Field?
In brief In this blog, Iona Lawrence and Immy Robinson ask whether taking a field-building approach could be valuable to the ‘field of relationships’ and ask for your ideas and partnership as we set out on this inquiry. If you're someone who puts relationships at the...
Caring for those who care for parents
In brief In this Observatory Sighting, Shift's Innovation Director Tayo Medupin explores the potential of a more people-powered future, and highlights the underinvestment in individuals stepping up and stepping in to help others in their community. We'll be...
Supporting community businesses to become Relationships Makers
In brief We’ve partnered with Power to Change to support a cohort of community businesses to reflect on the power and potential of relationships and develop strategies for building successful businesses based on strong relationships. In this blog, we lay out our...
There’s No “Virus” Without “Us”: The Smoke and Mirrors of Independence in a Global Pandemic
In this Joining the Dots blog, Canadian graduate Prachir Pasricha reflects on the way COVID-19 has shone a light on the importance of a collective understanding of wellbeing. Prachir Pasricha recently graduated from the University of Western Ontario in Canada after...
Micro Care
Are there clues in the pandemic experience for the development of more community based, relationship centred social care? What would need to change and what support would it require? Here, David considers the implications, and the potential, for transforming the approach to social care.
Huddle-craft: The power of micro ‘learning communities’ or ‘Huddles’
In brief In this Joining the Dots blog, co-founder of Enrol Yourself and friend of The Relationships Project Zahra Davidson discusses the power of Huddles; small, non-hierarchical learning communities who support one another to grow and learn. Zahra is co-founder of...
