Capturing the magic, adapting to a changing environment & creating safe and inclusive spaces: Insights from the Bringing Together Programme

The Bringing People Together (BPT) Programme strives to unite individuals and communities and to enable them to prosper by creating the conditions, infrastructure and social fabric that enable better and longer lasting ways of bringing people and communities together. In NDTi’s role as learning partner for BPT, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, we created a series of virtual campfires to capture the learning from projects in real time. Here are some of the lessons and insights from the most recent campfire conversations, which we share to help similar projects:

Engaging communities

BPT emphasises the importance of community control, encouraging communities to evolve and shape their projects. Engaging with communities is complex, and BTP highlights the importance of understanding that communities are not homogenous. There are often internal conflicts and diverse backgrounds within a single group, and it is crucial to design gatherings that build trust and relationships first. This careful approach ensures meaningful and inclusive engagement.

But engaging people too early in the process can be a mistake. For instance, one of the organisations initiated extensive engagement at the start, but the development of a crucial toolkit took longer than expected. By the time the toolkit was ready, many initial participants had moved on, leading to duplicated efforts. The takeaway? Take your time, scope the area thoroughly, and establish a solid foundation before engaging widely.

“Take your time, take a breath before you engage. Scope the area first and establish yourself.”

Flexing, responding and reshaping as circumstances change

Coproduction means that plans need to be flexible and adaptable. Stakeholders face different pressures, and what works in a pilot phase may need reshaping in the real world. One project found that facilitating community conversations placed significant pressure on the people and organisations involved, underestimating the experience required to lead such initiatives effectively. This highlights the need for continuous learning and adaptation in project implementation, and for seeing difficulties as an opportunity for learning and growth.

Adapting to a rapidly changing context is another key theme for BPT. Collaborating with partners who often have limited time and capacity makes this even more challenging. Some projects have to navigate initial hostility and conflicting advice. There is also a growing trend of people engaging only with others who share similar experiences, reflecting broader societal patterns.

Creating Safe and Inclusive Spaces

Projects aim to create empowering yet safe environments where people can take risks. This involves continuous adaptation and learning, developing a culture of solidarity and respect. The goal is to focus on commonalities rather than differences, fostering a sense of unity among different practitioners. Some organisations have hosted events which aim to strengthen community integration and to boost cohesion. These events highlight the contributions of volunteers and community champions, aiming to deepen engagement and broaden the project's impact.

Bridging Divides

Bridging societal divides requires a commitment to inclusivity and a willingness to change. BPT operates in a context where political and social divides are becoming more pronounced. The Programme aims to combat these divides in various ways, encouraging social mixing and leveraging public spaces for community engagement. For instance, one of the projects is transforming supermarkets into community hubs where diverse groups can connect intentionally.

Also, inclusivity must go beyond superficial measures. For example, public spaces claiming to be accessible with limited wheelchair spaces need to address the real needs of the community. Physical connection is also vital; people are eager to meet in person after the fatigue of online meetings. However, arranging such connections can be challenging, especially with limited resources

Scaling Ideas

One innovative aspect of BPT is its approach to scaling ideas. By reshaping successful initiatives and extending them to other areas, projects aim to reach broad audiences. These initiatives are co-produced and controlled by local communities, ensuring they serve local needs and aspirations.

Capturing the Magic

Evaluating and capturing the essence of the projects is crucial, yet challenging. It’s important for those delivering the project to play a central role in deciding what will be captured and how. Overly ambitious outcomes set by management can be counterproductive. Keeping it simple and achievable is key. While some projects use external evaluators to capture qualitative evidence, others feel over-evaluated, which can detract from actual project delivery.

“Outcomes were set by higher management. There were lots of indicators that were not achievable. Keep it simple!”

Final Thoughts

The Bringing People Together Programme continues to evolve, learning from each experience and adapting to meet the needs of our communities. It represents a bold effort to foster community cohesion and social justice across the UK. Through collaboration, adaptation, and a deep commitment to inclusivity, BPT is navigating complex challenges to build a more connected and resilient society. By learning from its experiences and continuously evolving, the project aims to create lasting impacts that extend far beyond its initial scope.

By integrating these insights and reflecting on our journey, we hope to inspire and guide others in their efforts to bring communities together.

Helen Bown, Jane Carrier & Ewa Woodward