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
From process-led to relationship-led: Moving towards more relational Councils
On 14th February, in partnership with LBBD, we hosted our second relational councils convening. In this session, we asked: How could we see relationships as a solution to statutory duties, not as incompatible with them? Our next convening, taking place on 25th April,...
Where are we now?
In brief In this milestone blog David Robinson takes the temperature as we approach the second anniversary of Covid 19. The UK is stuck in a pattern of “shuffle and repeat” with fears for the future, but also the possibility of hope.The past two years have caused...
Exploring what it means to be a relational council
In December, we gathered to discuss what it means to be a relational council, the challenges in putting relationships at the heart of how council’s operate, and the pathways forward. Here, we draw out the key themes and questions from the discussion and invite you to...
Togetherness
In brief In this, our last blog of 2021, we look back on another year of disruption and pain and remind ourselves of the patches of light and the power of relationships in helping us to heal. It has taken a long time to get here, but I do have more than one person I...
Tending to the relationships that make us feel most alive
In brief In this blog, Oli Barrett shares his personal reflections on relationships that have gone untended as we did what we needed to to get through the dark days of the pandemic. And he reminds us that it's not too late to reconnect with those who make us feel most...
Sustaining and evolving the best of Mutual Aid
In brief In this blog, David explores the possibilities for Mutual Aid 2.0 and shares our plans for a peer sharing group for anyone interested in the question of how we nurture and sustain community activity into the future. A year ago, You Gov research, undertaken...
Lookout Sighting #3: Well connected or connecting well?
The Lookout is a space for understanding how life has changed for young people during Covid. During recent Lookout discussions, the double-edged nature of digital connection has come up frequently. In this Sighting, we explore the complex effect of digital technology...
Lookout Sighting #2: Lost rituals and new routines
The Lookout is a space for understanding how life has changed for young people during Covid. We're primarily hearing from young people directly but recently hosted a discussion with parents and professionals working with young people. This Sighting shares a key theme...
Is that it?
In brief In this blog, we explore the long tail damage of the pandemic and oscillating community activity, and we ask for your thoughts on the best role that we can play here at The Relationships Project. On 10/11, we're convening a conversation to explore how best to...
The ‘miracle’ of NEWPIN
In Lockdown and Deep Tissue Damage Sam wrote about the challenges that will remain when the worst of the pandemic is over. Relationships within families, particularly in families that were already struggling pre Covid, is an area of particular concern. Here...
