Growing Connection: The story of the Roots Programme

In this blog, we introduce three members of The Roots Programme team. The Roots Programme run programmes that bridge gaps, transcend social bubbles, and create lasting relationships across key facets of society. By building community through cultural exchange initiatives, they bring people together who might never otherwise connect, creating opportunities for insight and understanding that foster curiosity, compassion, and connection.

Estrangement and division

In the aftermath of Brexit, our founder Ruth Ibegbuna noticed something that stayed with her. In her own neighbourhood, she saw previously disconnected neighbours celebrating in the streets, united by a sense of triumph over the system that had forgotten them. Meanwhile, further South, in cities like London, there was a very different sentiment and open animosity for those who voted us out of the EU. These contrasting emotions revealed to her the growing mass of fractures in UK society and how disconnected people in British society had become.

Neighbours were more estranged than ever, a social media world of people shouting into the abyss had emerged and communities seemed to be speaking past each other instead of to each other.

That realisation sparked an idea for something simple and, from it, the Roots Programme was born. 

The Roots Programme

At its heart, the Roots Programme is about bringing people together. The aim is simple yet profound: create opportunities where people can step outside their own perspective, meet others from different walks of life and find both common ground and reasons to celebrate their differences.

Through thoughtfully designed experiences, Roots fosters a sense of understanding and solidarity that feels like a breath of fresh air in an often divided world. 

One of our programmes is called Roots Futures and brings together students from state and independent schools, fostering genuine connections between young people from diverse backgrounds. It’s a collaborative space where young people can shape and share their own stories of who they are, challenge assumptions and envision a society that better serves everyone. This experience is rooted in mutual respect and learning, enabling participants to broaden their understanding of how societal systems affect different lives. By stepping outside their usual environments, they gain insights that textbooks alone cannot offer, building empathy and fostering a shared sense of purpose. 

Another initiative, the Roots Adult Cultural Exchange, pairs people who’ve lived in the UK all their lives with those who’ve more recently made it their home. Through written activities and, later, online conversations they explore their stories, reflecting on their differences, perspectives and shared humanity. 

Meanwhile, Roots Community Conversations bring local communities together in neutral spaces to discuss what they cherish, what they need and what could be reimagined, creating opportunities to listen deeply and build something better together. 

In workplaces, the Roots Workplace Community Building Workshops bring employees together to break down barriers, encouraging them to connect on a human level. These workshops encourage authentic relationship building and improve trust, morale and communication, making workplaces feel more collaborative and inclusive, into a place where team members feel heard and connected. 

Contact Theory

How does Roots succeed in breaking down the walls between people? It all comes back to a simple but powerful idea: meaningful connections happen when people are brought together in the right way. 

Inspired by Gordon Allport’s Contact Theory (a principle that’s been around since the 1950s), Roots creates environments where shared goals, structure and support lay the foundation for real understanding. In every programme, participants share stories about who they are, who they were and tastes, passions and issues they may be interested in. These conversations aren’t always easy. They can be deeply personal if an individual wishes to share and allow themselves to be vulnerable. However, they’re also the kind of conversations that leave people feeling seen, heard and genuinely connected and there’s no pressure to share anything that feels uncomfortable. The exchange is very much ‘take what you require and leave the rest’. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Yes, it takes a little courage but, for those who take the leap, it’s a unique experience that very gently introduces you to a different perspective and is closely held by Roots.

Learning along the way

The Roots Programme’s journey has been full of developments, friendships and surprises. During the pandemic, there was a surge of interest in online programmes, with people finding new ways and wills to connect in the isolation of lockdowns. As life shifts back to in-person gatherings and hybrid and in-office work as the norm, there’s a renewed energy for face-to-face interactions.

Communities are holding on to the essence of lockdown connections they’ve built, but there’s also the reality of fatigue. Life gets busy and making time for meaningful connections takes effort.

Workplaces, too, are navigating change. With so many teams working in hybrid models, the appetite for relational work – programmes that focus on building trust and richer relationships – has grown. In communities, there’s a sense of self-determination and empowerment emerging. People are realising that real change often starts locally. They’re stepping up, finding their voice and becoming experts in their own neighbourhoods. 

One thing Roots has learned is that there’s no such thing as promising a perfectly “safe space”. Being vulnerable and sharing your story is always a brave act.

What Roots can do is create spaces where people feel held and supported, where the environment is as mindfully thoughtful and respectful as possible and where no awkward silence is needed since guidance and ideas are always at hand. No one is ever forced to participate in a way they’re not comfortable with. Instead, participants are encouraged to approach others with an open mind, compassionate curiosity and guidance on building trauma-informed connections. It’s about meeting people where they are and walking forward together.

Get involved

Roots is always looking for people to join its journey of connection. If you’re interested in bringing the Roots Futures programme to your school or you’d like to be part of the UK Cultural Exchange or a Community Conversation or any of our other programmes, head over to the Roots website to learn more. It’s easy to get started, and the experience could be transformative. Not just for others but for you too. 

The Roots Programme is more than an initiative. It’s a movement to bring people together in a world that for many of us often feels divided. It starts with a single conversation and it grows from there. Let’s grow something beautiful together. 

(Find us at rootsprogramme.org)

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