relational activism

a shared space. account run collectively by parent activists, social workers & artists who are using 'lived' & ‘learned' experiences to co-design human services

[relational activism @relationalacts]

Who is a Relational Activist? Someone working with empathy, compassion, the ability to connect & form networks, with an understanding that change happens through relationships.
#RelationalActivism

https://t.co/Eyh8Q6VEi5

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

Our Youth Vocals group is made up of 4–6 young people who have been subject to child protection or child in need plans, who meet regularly to give their thoughts and feedback. Big thanks to Youth Vocals and MC for sharing this week's Friday Story. https://t.co/sC3rF7foYb

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

"Each session with her has opened up space for vulnerability, reflection, and genuine connection...".
Special thanks to one of our fantastic social workers for sharing this week's Friday Story. Read it here: https://t.co/6T8v9YDwOv
#FridayStory #SocialWork #Connection

[Sharon Martin @SharonLMartin1]

Register by tomorrow: 26th November, 12 – 1.30pm. The importance of maintaining relationships & adoption, & outcomes of open adoptions. In collaboration with UEA & Adoption England #IRO #Adoption #SocialWork

https://t.co/RqRk2qXV6q

[relational activism @relationalacts]

Entanglement and Connection: Karen Barad and the Art of Relational Thinking

In the world of facilitation, activism, and human connection, the ideas of Karen Barad run deep. Her work on entanglement and intra-action reminds us that nothing exists in isolation. We are always co-creating, shaping, and being shaped by the relationships and environments.

This work connects for me with [pictured] Marcel Duchamp’s First Papers of Surrealism exhibition in 1942, where the entangled strings that crisscrossed the space disrupted the traditional viewer-artwork relationship. Duchamp’s web invited participants to navigate, to pause, and to rethink their positions within a shared space. In both cases, from Barad and Duchamp what emerges is not a fixed meaning but a dynamic interplay—an invitation to be part of something larger.

This mirrors facilitation and relational activism. When we create spaces for dialogue, we are practicing what Barad might call intra-action. We’re not separate from the people or ideas we engage with; rather, we’re deeply intertwined. The connections we foster ripple outward.

In facilitation, this means embracing complexity, leaning into stuckness, and recognising that what emerges is not predetermined but co-created. “Witness without steering,” as we’ve said, allowing relational acts to unfold with their own rhythm and potential. Whether in an art installation, a workshop, or a moment of shared vulnerability, Barad reminds us that meaning is not in things but in the interactions between them.

As facilitators, activists, and co-creators, we navigate these entanglements daily. The challenge—and the beauty—is in remaining present to the possibilities that arise when we embrace the relational.

#RelationalActivism #Facilitation #KarenBarad #Entanglement #Connection #IntraAction

[Margaret Thorsborne, OAM @ThorsborneMarg]

Never underestimate the need for trust. Only when we feel safe (when we trust the other) can we be appropriately vulnerable, which is critical for transformation in that relationship.

[ATD Ireland @ATDIreland]

"Adding the 10th won't eradicate poverty, but it will go a long way towards eradicating one of Povety's biggest impacts, socio-economic discrimination. 'Choice' is the key word here; poverty erodes choices about your future & that of your family.
#AddThe10th

[Care Leavers' Assoc @CareLeavers]

🎙️ Care Leaver Voices Podcast Launch!

Join host Carrie Harrop with Leah, Abed, Liam, Kaitlyn, & Tyrese as they discuss key issues shaping care-experienced lives.

🔗 Listen now: Spotify link

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

Wow - comments like these 🥰!
We hope you're all enjoying our Friday Story posts?
#StoryTime #FridayStory #CommentsLikeThese #ConnectedPractice #Grateful

[relational activism @relationalacts]

“ if one but threw a sponge full of colors at a wall….
Leonardo wrote:
it would leave a patch in which one might see a beautiful landscape. It is probably true that one might see all kinds of things in such a patch—such as animals, human heads, battles, cliffs, the sea, clouds, or forests. 
Even though such patches may help you to invent things, they will never teach you how to carry any particular project to completion.” 
The point Leonardo was making is clear: 
He argues for The Art of Context.
His preference was for imagination plus living—seeing, exploring, and understanding the context in which people, animals, nature, and things exist, and making a close study of this lifeworld an integral part of his craft. From the outset, he regarded landscape not simply as a backdrop; he saw people in their whole environment as an inextricable part of nature. In another part of his writing, he even recommends staring at stains on walls as a source of inspiration.

Images 
From the world of leonardo 

#CloserToPeople
#LivedFutures
#RelationalActivism

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

'He is our "miracle boy", a young person who has transformed not only his own life, but our home as well'. 💕🏡 This heartening Friday Story is told by one of our incredible residential children's homes staff. Read the story here: https://t.co/Irda25OjsO. #FridayStory

[Kar-Man (CASCADE•RHUL•CAMDEN•RelationalActivism) @MG852to44]

It's Next Monday; there is still time to sign up 👇🏼
#relationalactivismwebinar

[relational activism @relationalacts]

relationSHIPS

“a relationship is like a voyage – if you break down the word, it’s relation and ship.”

Social Work Compass 🧭 Our regular column written by Richard Devine and @familygroupmeet published in Professional Social Work magazine. This piece is inspired by this insight from Michael Clarke on relationSHIPS, as crucial vessels 🚢

Containers for trust, and ballast for our journey in working with people.

Prioritising the ‘Wavey” path of relationships over rigid processes.

⛵️🌊

#RelationalActivism

[relational activism @relationalacts]

@susannerich4rds 👏

[Susanne Richards @susannerich4rds]

First attempt at a blog piece🫣

[ATD Ireland @ATDIreland]

Those with a lived experience report everyday incidences of discrimination as a result of their accent, clothing, address, employment status etc. The stigma & shame that results from discrimination has huge effects on mental health & #Wellbeing
Please support #AddThe10th campaign

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

This week's Friday Story is titled 'Paws for Healing' 🐾. Read this delightful story at https://t.co/2tZNoeMtng.

#FridayStory #PawsForHealing #HealingThroughPets #StoryTime #ESCC

[relational activism @relationalacts]

The new East Sussex podcast is Connecting Conversations: Stories from Social Work by the Sea…

Seeking connecting conversations that develop our storytelling approach - moving into dialogue. This podcast connects local experience with national expertise, giving airtime to stories told, stories lived, and stories unheard.
This episode features Dr Beverley Barnett-Jones MBE & Michelle Hayman 

 The Significance of Storytelling in Black History

Growing up, Michelle didn’t fully understand her dad’s work at first. As Michelle learned more, she understood the challenges her dad faced. He was the first Black social worker in East Sussex, pushing against barriers in a system that wasn’t always welcoming. His resilience left a lasting impact on her, and it’s a strength she carries into her own career.

Now an Operational Manager, Michelle has surpassed her dad’s achievements in terms of seniority, and he couldn’t be prouder. His book, Reflections on the Glass Ceiling, captures his struggles and legacy—one that Michelle is proud to continue. Her own children are even showing interest in following in their family’s footsteps.

This conversation is about bringing stories into dialogue— Join us in taking these stories on air.

Follow the East Sussex account below, and the links to the podcast, stay listening for the reading by Beverley at the end.

Thank you Beverley and Michelle 

#ConnectingConversations #Dialogue 
#Stories

[Social Work in East Sussex @SocialWork_ES]

Introducing our new podcast, Connecting Conversations: Stories from Social Work by the Sea, hosted by Tim Fisher (@familygroupmeet). Listen to the first episode at https://t.co/hWCnmr0VLZ (Buzzsprout) or https://t.co/dPXvwkV58O (Spotify). We'd love to know your thoughts...

[relational activism @relationalacts]

EP.6. Growing up in care, shame and healing - Relational Activism in Social Work | Podcast on Spotify https://t.co/gUpf0XDHN2

[relational activism @relationalacts]

Spokes to Circles: Rethinking Participation in Local Authorities

A standout moment for me happened recently during a call with senior professionals from different parts of the country. We discussed citizen participation groups, particularly those involving parents, when someone asked, “How do you allocate parents to this?” Although this question came from a genuine place of learning, for me it highlighted a fundamental issue with how community involvement is often perceived within local authority structures. The word “allocate” suggests a top-down approach, reflecting a tendency, which all of us professionals are guilty of at times, to see participation as something to be managed and controlled rather than facilitated and shared.

This brings me to what I call the "spoke versus circle" conundrum. Many participation leads we have talked to recently within local authorities work under considerable pressure, often coordinating multiple relationships with community members from a central position. They become the "hub" or "spoke," responsible for overseeing each connection and every aspect of the groups they are responsible for. While this model may work for certain projects, it often becomes overwhelming. Professionals in this role may feel anxious, stretched thin, or even conflicted, balancing the community's needs with the bureaucratic demands of their institution.

This spoke model can sometimes lead to tension between members of the group itself. When a single person manages all relationships, they become a gatekeeper, and the sense of collective ownership within the group can diminish. In some cases, this can even lead to conflicts, as members perceive the participation process as inequitable.

An alternative approach—the "circle" or solidarity method— instead of controlling each relationship from a central hub, the facilitation promotes shared ownership and collective responsibility. The group becomes a space of solidarity, where members contribute and support one another. The participation professional's role shifts from manager to facilitator, helping to set up the structure then allowing for the group’s natural dynamics to flourish.

Setting up a successful group, however, requires more than just initial preparation. Consideration must also be given to what happens after the formal meeting ends. There must be a sense of “aftercare” or a plan for continued interaction and support within the group. Nevertheless, I  feel that the essence of a successful group lies not in micromanaging every detail but in fostering trust and ownership among its members.

Moving from a spoke to a circle mindset could encourage local authorities to rethink their participation activity —not as managers but as facilitators of a shared journey.

Images, Reinventing Organisations for the quote in the comments*
& Art: Louise Bourgeois Spiral & The Beating of the Heart

feel free to get in touch if this resonates and you want to discuss further
#RelationalActivism