Skip to content

Relationship-centred practice

I had a fantastic day today at an event all about Relationship Centred Practice, the theme was Changing our Permissions. It was organised by the Relationships Project, and the venue was the Button Factory in Birmingham. (It was a really great venue and the lunch was spectacular btw, if you’re looking for a Midlands event venue for 100 people, I warmly recommend The Yard at the Button Factory).

I had a small part to play in the programme, which fortunately for me was near the start of the day so I could then relax and enjoy the excellent programme and conversations with other participants. It was lovely to see in person people who I have known for the past few years through online meetings, and to bump into others who were on the same course last week (not knowing we were all attending the same event!) – a sign that we are moving in the same sort of areas of interest. I also stayed on chatting for a long time after the official end of the event, and that’s what relationships-centred practice is about too, isn’t it? It’s so nourishing for the soul to have like-minded people to share ideas and sources of knowledge and learning with. I have come away with a list of notes and follow-ups, of course.

For now, a couple of quotes that stood out for me, when David Robinson was talking about relationship-centred practice to change and improve our public services and our communities:

“Relationships as the first mile, not the extra mile.”

“Relationships are the first order goal, as well as the means by which other goals will be achieved.”

Incidentally, yesterday I did a learning session about power and co-production for Platfform (as part of the New Systems Alliance programme of events), and for the questions on challenges encountered (e.g. “how about when X happens?!”) my answer is invariably, in some shape or form: attend to the relationships.


A group of people sitting in various chairs and sofas (and some on the floor) in a colourful yard space, listening to a speaker who's off camera.

Image credit: Helen Simmons