Johny Haycocks, member of York MCN network and Systems Changers participant — It’s often the least tangible of expressions that convey the most meaning. I’ve been thinking a lot about how the creative process allows us to access emotions and feelings in a far more connected sense in terms of empathy. Words and questions are great for extracting information and responses, terms…

Christine Frazer, NHS Teams and Dunstan, Gateshead — Having been asked to write my very first “Blog” by Joe Doran, who according to a previous missive; “does not like blogs!” I find myself in a rather unusual predicament. Trying to achieve the impossible! So here we go. I’ll do my best. Bring it on! I’m Christine Frazer. I…

Jess Cordingly, Lankelly Chase — One of the things I love most about working at Lankelly Chase is the opportunity to work with an incredible range of people. And not just work together, but truly collaborate, walk together for a bit, try on each other’s shoes (I’d kidded myself that I had a rich and…

Max French, Northumbria University — Lankelly Chase Foundation’s (LCF) Place Action Inquiry is driven by a conviction that those living and working closest to social problems are best placed to direct change. LCF’s work across places therefore consists of many different people with many different perspectives working toward many different goals. Our original approach described…

Carrina Gaffney, Lankelly Chase — The Elephant Trails in Greater Manchester is one of our longest place-based partnerships. In the founders’ words — “we are a community of passionate people who are drawing on our life experiences to support others and address challenges in our society. …

Hannah Hesselgreaves, Northumbria University — Lankelly Chase’s recently published report on the Place Action Inquiry draws from our roles as learning partners. In this role, we have been constant companions to the Inquiry since its inception in 2017. This has been a different role to one normally played by academics — more in-depth and open-ended…

Alison Spaul, Two Ridings Community Foundation, York — “What are you doing in your new role?” asked a friend, mentor and general supporter, about a month or so into my new position (Systems Change Partnership Coordinator at Two Ridings Community Foundation). I described the work that would bring people together to inquire; What systems perpetuate multiple disadvantage for…

Joe Doran, Lankelly Chase — I read through the Oxford reflection having spent an afternoon with the team there this week talking about the storytelling project they’ve been part of. A question popped up in the chat from another partner that afternoon which has stuck with me. …

Making a case for the uncertain: reflections from the Place Action Inquiry August-September 2020 Max French, Northumbria University By the summer most of the Place Action Inquiry areas had settled back into action and had picked up those pieces of work dropped suddenly in lockdown. As the networks, working groups, learning spaces and strategic…