How do we build strong foundations for a resilient grassroots network?

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming evening to explore and unpack the question above at this Planet Local Summit fringe event.

Inspired by the Planet Local Summit, panellists from some of Bristol’s most active grassroots projects and organisations (Shift Bristol, The Bristol Commons, Transition) will gather to share our insights and experience in what fosters and supports authentic, lasting and united action.

We will open the conversation to include a wide range of angles; from the group dynamic skills needed to help support relationships within networks, to the design of communication channels to facilitate collaborative working.

After the panel discussion we will host a peer-led ‘Open Space’, where attendees can form groups to explore and participate in emergent conversations rising from the evening. Having space to talk in-person, is one of the most valuable ways to build resilient grassroots networks following the aftermath of isolation, caused by the global pandemic.

Shift Bristol will assimilate the discussions from the evening to share with participants afterwards. This cycle of coming together, exploring, generating ideas, gathering the fruits, and then sharing before taking action, is another important step in building resilience.

THE PANEL

Hannah Padgett
Has over ten years experience involving communities in the design of the objects, environments and messages that fill their everyday lives. She has worked in areas such as street design, active travel, social health and public art, supporting key stakeholders and public champions, local authorities and institutions, businesses and individuals to come together to co-create outcomes that are informed by the people that use them. Hannah was a Practical Sustainability Course student in 2018/19 and currently makes use of her shifty skills at the Ecological Land Cooperative as Community Development Manager, as Founding Director of Hay Regenerative Soils CIC and as an artisan cheese maker.

Danny Balla
Danny is a creative facilitator dedicated to creating systemic change. He explores human relationships with the world and each other through immersive projects of participatory theatre, storytelling and film. Daniel is passionate about facilitation and experiential tools for participatory democracy. He has worked with Coexist since 2011, and is dedicated to exploring strategies for systemic change including Coexist’s manifesto to ‘Rebuild The Commons’.

Laura Corfield
Since 2004 Laura has volunteered with a host of community engagement and sustainability groups; including co-founding Transition Keynsham, Frack Free Somerset and participating in Climate Action camps and demonstrations. In 2010 she co-founded Shift Bristol with Sarah Pugh and went on to project manage the Practical Sustainability Course. She is now the Creative Director of Shift Bristol and is passionate about Group Skills education, as a key factor in the success of networks collaborating successfully in the future.

Mike Thomas – Transition
Has worked in the Third Sector for over 25 years in a wide variety of roles. He is now working at Transition Network where he thinks systemically about how to support the Transition Movement by developing and delivering a variety of projects large and small. He currently oversees the Transition Together project covering the UK.

Tea & coffee refreshments will be supplied on the evening