Have you noticed that poetry helps us find our common humanity? We’re on a mission to build connections within and between communities - to reduce isolation and build solidarity and unity. There’s nothing like a good poem to connect us to one another - including people from very different walks of life.

Back in March, we launched a national poetry challenge, welcoming anyone and everyone to write a poem on the theme of TOGETHERNESS. We have received poems from young and old, those currently in prison (thanks to our poetry partner, Errol McGlashan), people who have experienced chronic loneliness, doctors, nurses, teachers, and people from a wide range of heritage, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. This event aims to bring as many of these people together as we can - along with interested people and organisations working on similar themes - to listen to some rare and incredible poems, and just have some fun.

Would you like to be more connected to your community, but lack time, money and energy to do so?

Many of us can agree that our current system is broken - we the people are experiencing widespread isolation, cost of living, widening inequality, racism, housing, polarisation. Meanwhile, employers too are faced with many challenges around employee retention, wellbeing and productivity.

Join us for a positive and collaborative conversation over lunch, between experts with different perspectives, including Grace Blakeley, author of Vulture Capitalism. We’ll outline the challenges our current economic system poses to feelings of togetherness and explore how we can work with employers to foster a greater sense of community in the UK.

Are you interested in poetry, whether it is writing it or enjoying a spoken word performance? Are you looking for a space where you can connect with others?

When experiencing poetry in a shared space, we become more aware of our feelings, but also those of the people around us. We recently held our first in-person workshop in London, facilitated by Ovyuki and Aminah Rahman, both poets and creatives. It was a beautiful evening where we came together, connected, learned from each other and shared our vulnerabilities. We witnessed first-hand how much much you can deepen your understanding on togetherness when you expose the topic through a creative activity with other people. Poetry has a unique ability to make us feel connected!

That is why we want to bring people together again, to celebrate creativity and unity. In the beautiful surroundings of Suffolk, we will be hosting a day of poetry sessions and connection.

Are you interested in understanding what lies behind the current social polarisation we’re witnessing in our societies? We believe it is pressing to understand how extremist ideas have been normalised, mainstreamed into our day to day lives. There is a clear call for action and for change, requests to decolonise and to call out injustices. That is why we’re hosting what would surely be an eye-opening conversation with the Institute of Race Relations, to present their latest findings and the subsequent briefing paper: Mainstreaming Hate: how the Right exploits the crisis to divide us, chaired by Dr. Abdullah Faliq. This report provides a detailed but easily accessible account of how far-right ideas have already passed into the mainstream and what we can do to push back against them.

How can we ‘recreate' the community structures of our evolutionary past so that mothers and primary carers have the social support networks they need to thrive?Mothers and primary carers are experiencing isolation and loneliness more than ever before. Like all of us, they need connection and community. Enabling mothers and primary caregivers to access the communities of support they themselves need is a way of restoring connectedness in communities for the benefit of everyone, and for the benefit of future generations.

When experiencing poetry in a shared space, we become more aware of our feelings, but also those of the people around us. That is why we want to bring people together to celebrate creativity and unity. Whether you have participated in our challenge or not, we are delighted to invite you to an in-person workshop at Libreria, in London. This workshop will be facilitated by Ovyuki and Aminah Rahman, both poets and creatives. They will guide discussions and writing activities to inspire participants to create poetry that reflects their understanding of togetherness and celebrates unity and diversity.

Are you a grassroots leader working to support your community and keen to amplify your impact? Alongside our friends at Yuvanis Foundation, and as part of our 32 Steps to Togetherness initiative, we are hosting a celebratory day in Oldham: with keynote speakers, hands-on training, and more. At this event, we will offer a platform for diverse voices to come together, share insights, and forge partnerships for a strong civil society.

Are you a grassroots leader seeking impactful collaborations and fresh perspectives to tackle challenges in your community? Are you interested in finding out what other grassroots organisations are doing to support their communities, and what challenges they are facing? We are bringing together community leaders from across the UK for a day of collaboration, learning and inspiration. In this Project Exchange in Rochdale, social action leaders will converge to share insights, forge partnerships, and share strategies for stronger and more vibrant communities.

On the 10th Anniversary of James Ross Hunter’s passing, as part of Civil Society Consulting's initiative 32 Steps to Togetherness, JRHYS is bringing the conversation about trauma to the table, to contribute to the passion of care for self and others. There will be keynote speakers and Q & A’s with them, where you will hear (and ask!) from their experiences working in healing and with civil society. Besides the conversations, you will enjoy a music therapy session, a ‘healing market’ which will include 3-4 stalls of acupuncture and sound and crystal healing, open to all.