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
A letter from Birmingham
In brief On the 12th July 2024, 120 relationship-centred practitioners came together in Birmingham to explore how we can change our permissions to put relationships first. It was a day full of relationships, new and old, solidarity and celebration. Here, we offer our...
Ten Top Tips for working with new governments
In brief In a breakout session at the Changing our Permissions event on July 12th we discussed working with the new government. We heard from Rob Mc Cabe about his experience of working on changing systems with the Birmingham Pathfinder team and others contributed...
Hearts vs handbooks? Relationship-centred practice in schools
In brief In this blog, Verity Howorth - Relationships Collective member and Director of Training at Reach Foundation - speaks to Jonathan Black, Headteacher at Bridgewater College Academy, about the need to centre relationships in our schools. Only by doing so, they...
Revolution, from the group up
In brief As an election looms David Robinson reflects, in this very personal blog, on the stories of relationship centred-practitioners as told in our the Relationships Case Maker. Faraway from Westminster and Whitehall, he says, the relationship-centred revolution is...
Changing our permissions
In brief Every community and every organisation is shaped by norms, assumptions and rules. They condition our behaviour, determine what is and is not permissible, and mould our relationships. Here, David Robinson discusses changing our permissions; a theme that we...
Relationships Learning Network Update
In brief In this blog, Neil Denton gives an update on the Relationships Learning Network which gathered for the first time in September 2023. Neil outlines some common areas of interest and interdisciplinary interest and invites you to join us in strengthening links...
Pattern Library Update
In November 2023, we shared our very early stage thinking around a Pattern Library for Relationship-Centred Practice and invited anyone who was interested to join us in developing the idea. Through their thoughtful feedback and ideas, our Critical Friends have brought...
What we mean by relationship-centred practice
Key Concepts | What we mean by relationship-centred practiceRelationship-Centred Practice puts relationships first. It unlocks potential and meets need by positioning meaningful and effective relationships as the first order goal, both an end in itself and the means...
What we mean by good relationships
Key Concepts | What we mean by good relationshipsWe often use the word ‘relationship’ to mean different things – from the relationship we might have with our bank to the relationship we might have with a family member. To draw out what we mean by good relationships,...
My barber: Putting relationships first
Last week David Robinson wrote about the failures of the Post Office and the implications of putting relationships last. This week he reflects on the success of a very different kind of business.Putting relationships first I don’t spend a lot of money on my hair, but...
