Plan for Peace

🔥 As we hit the midway mark on our Changemakers in Turbulent Times programme, this week's theme is a potent one - how can we transform anger and conflict in order to foster cooperation? Jo Berry and Ruby Kellard led a rich and lively discussion with participants. Some key takeaways were as follows: 1️⃣ The challenge of bringing empathy and curiosity to a conversation in the face of anger. 2️⃣ How can you look after yourself if you are not given the opportunity to be heard during a conflict?  3️⃣ The importance of not letting anger fester, of addressing it in whatever way is right for the situation.  4️⃣ Removing blame from anger has value, as well as understanding the difference between blame and accountability. 5️⃣ Expressing anger as a woman or person of colour can be a very different experience.  6️⃣ Knowing how to let your anger go when it no longer serves you is crucial. What would you add to this list? We'd love to hear from you!

⏰ Today's the day! We're thrilled by the interest shown in our Crossing the Divide public dialogue event with Julie Siddiqi MBE and Dr Lindsay Simmonds - and yes, there's still time to sign up! Here's what Richard Evans from the inspiring The Jo Cox Foundation had to say about the first event in this series: "The first episode of Plan for Peace's Crossing the Divide dialogue series was extremely powerful and thought-provoking. Thank you for organising it and inviting us. Our Head of Communities, Zoe Cumberland, also attended and felt the same. Ivan (Humble) and Manwar (Ali) were eloquent and humbling, Ruby and Jo facilitated it with such care, and the event as a whole felt multi-layered and important. We've asked all our Stronger Communities team to watch the recording and have allocated time for us to reflect on it together." Thank you for the kind words, Richard! ➡️ Will you join us for this unique event this evening? Here's the link to sign up: https://lnkd.in/dS4FkAJM

Jo Berry and Ruby Kellard led yesterday's session on Listening with our Changemakers in Turbulent Times programme participants. Some key takeaways that emerged from the rich interactive discussion: ❓ The importance of being curious in your work, of being open to new and different ideas and people. 🙋 The need for self-preservation, to choose when and with whom to enter into dialogue. ⛑️ Being responsible for setting your own boundaries when it comes to difficult conversations and learning to say no when you are not in the position to have one. 👂 Having empathy for others but not taking on the emotional burden of their issues, and having a space to offload whenever needed.

👂 This week is all about listening as a core conflict transformation skill for participants in our Changemakers in Turbulent Times programme. They'll learn more about how to listen without rescuing, advising, or shaming. They'll also explore how to hold compassionate conversation, especially with those who challenge us - a much-needed capacity in our polarising world. In honour of this module, we're revisiting this inspiring TED Conferences talk by Jo Berry, our Head of Peacebuilding, in which she shares her own story of the power of listening, empathy and the friendship she's forged with Patrick Magee, the former IRA combatant who planted a bomb that killed her father. ➡️ If you're curious to go deeper into these pressing themes, join Jo and special guests Julie Siddiqi MBE and Dr Lindsay Simmonds on June 25 for an online conversation to explore the role of radical trust building when it comes to peace. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dS4FkAJM

“We may not be able to directly influence the events in Israel Gaza but being able to keep friendships alive here, despite everything that's happening, is in itself a small but significant kind of peace.” - Julie Siddiqi MBE We're just a week away from the next thought-provoking session in our Crossing the Divide public dialogue series. (Have you booked your place yet?) Lindsay Simmonds and Julie Siddiqi MBE are influential members of their respective Jewish and Muslim communities. Together, through a foundation of radical trust-building and unconditional empathy, they've built an enduring friendship that has enabled them to drive groundbreaking change across the UK’s political and ideological divides. Together, they demonstrate how trust-building and empathetic dialogue has the capacity to offer each of us a way out of recurring cycles of violence. The talk will be moderated by Jo Berry, one of the UK's foremost conflict transformation experts and our head of Peacebuilding. ➡️ To book your place for this free talk, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/dJzgemaj

👏 And we're off! We launched our Changemakers in Turbulent Times programme this week with 40 inspiring participants keen to expand their impact in the world. We took some time to explore our own changemaking - what we want to achieve and what's stopping us. These were some of the themes that emerged: ➡️ Lack of self-belief/self-confidence and struggling with imposter syndrome and not feeling good enough ➡️ Fear of getting it wrong or not knowing what the outcome of an idea/project will be ➡️ The tension between big ideas and small ideas, wanting to change the world but knowing that you can only do one small thing at a time ➡️ The power of connection and the importance of focusing on viewing each other as human beings

🎉 Here we go! Our Summer 2024 edition of Changemakers in Turbulent Times kicks off tomorrow with a stellar group of 40 inspiring community leaders, policy makers and activists. The first module this week is an opportunity to step back, take stock and reconnect with their passion - what drives their changemaking? What needs and obstacles do they currently face in this effort? Led by our skilled conflict transformation experts Jo Berry and Ruby Kellard, the module also features guest content from the wonderful Selina Hales, who founded Refuweegee, the award-winning Glaswegian organisation that does such a stellar job in welcoming refugees. This clip below captures her original seed motivation so beautifully. We wish all participants a rich and rewarding 6-week journey, we're delighted to have you on board 👏

🌡️ 🌱 What's the link between peacebuilding and climate change? How can peacebuilding skills and tools contribute to the climate action movement? We're thrilled to bits to see our CEO Madeleine Mosse featured in this issue of My Green Pod, dedicated to World Environment Day and climate action. It's an honour to be featured alongside many exciting pioneers who are shaking up business models, leadership ideas, farming practices and everyday products to put people and planet at the heart of what they do. ➡️ Check out the magazine here: https://lnkd.in/eUCs8a3

✨ Introducing the Summer 2024 UK Changemakers cohort! ✨ 40 incredible individuals driving social change in communities across the British Isles. This cohort of our flagship programme Changemakers in Turbulent Times brings together social entrepreneurs, local government and policy leaders, and community changemakers from Cornwall to Glasgow, with a wealth of experience and diversity in backgrounds. They range in age from 18 to 70. They work at the intersection of systems such as mental health, climate change, community housing, health equity, disability rights, social work, education and film. Some are students, while others are retired. "We were so impressed by the calibre of applicants," says Ruby Kellard, Programme Manager. "They are all gifted individuals working for and thinking deeply about the future of healthy community life in the UK and Ireland, we're thrilled to have them on board." Changemakers in Turbulent Times is our flagship programme designed to weave a network of community leaders, policymakers and changemakers with the capacity to transform conflict and contribute to a more thriving, united community life. We're already so inspired by these Changemakers! Watch this space to connect with them - the 6-week programme led by Jo Berry and Ruby Kellard begins next week!

Our Crossing the Divide dialogue series explores how to move beyond mindsets rooted in hatred and judgement, and cultivate compassion and empathy. 🌉❤️ In our latest episode, we feature Ivan Humble, an ex-right-wing extremist, and Muhammad Manwar Ali, an ex-jihadist. Together, they have worked to let go of the hatred that once drove them. 🤝✨ This transformation not only benefits communities, as formerly polarised individuals come together, but also enhances the lives of the individuals themselves, freeing them from the hatred that once weighed them down. 🌍💬 Join us for our next episode on 25 June 2024, where we will continue to explore active listening and understanding. Our guests, Julie Siddiqi MBE and Dr. Lindsay Simmonds, will discuss the role of radical trust-building in creating peace. 🗓️🕊️ Sign up for our next episode and learn more about the series here: https://lnkd.in/dS4FkAJM