Max NeillPortland 2014
What is a circle?
• When do we naturally use our own circles?• Who would be in your circle?
• The person at the centre of the circle is usually somebody who has been excluded from accessing traditional support networks (family, community, employment) due to disability, ill health or circumstances
• Circles are a community focussed intentional response to this exclusion
We know circles work.
• Even though circles are very rare, people who lead policy and practice in the UK generally have a circles, or are part of a circle.
• If it’s good enough for them – it’s good enough for everybody!
What makes circles work?• Informal: Not too many rules: purpose of every rule
is to enable inclusion• Mutual: Everyone involved has influence• Diverse: Bringing in people from different
backgrounds and experiences makes circles stronger• Co-production: Power with, not power over• Time: A space to think together. Rounds give
everyone equal opportunities to contribute• Appreciation: Helps us feel able to share learning
How do we develop Circles at scale?
Question the unwritten rules
• Have as few rules as possible• Any rules we do have are designed to help
people be included• No fetishes, no dogmas, no ‘pureness’• The facilitator doesn’t have to be a charismatic
super-skilled ‘guru’, or a selfless saint• Facilitator should be directly accountable to
the circle: including the ability to change the facilitator
“Barefoot” Facilitation
Stripping circles down
• The facilitator doesn’t need to be able to do MAPS and PATH and Person Centred Reviews: Someone else can do that.
• Facilitator uses positive and productive meeting principles to ‘hold the space’
• Facilitators can be: Students, volunteers, 2 hrs a month corporate social responsibility, faith groups
Skills beneath the skillsPCP
PCT
Creating and holding a space where learning can be shared
Supporting Facilitators
TrainingBuddyMentorCoordinatorGroupsiteMaterials
How do Community Circles work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq_KTpQC1uE
Circles• Circles at the end of life: In a hospice in Buckinghamshire• Circles with people with dementia: in Bruce Lodge• Circles as part of the work of faith communities• Circles as part of the work of a Local Area Coordinator
What difference would the widespread use of circles to help
people have more choice and control in their own lives make to
local communities?
Circles create change:
How can I get involved?Opportunity to Contribute
Become a Community Circles FacilitatorSign up to facilitate the Person Centred Planning meetingsSign up to become a mentor
Opportunity to Connect
Join in the discussions, share your thoughts, talk to people on the social media
Actively Participating Like our comments and retweet.Read the blogs
Having Presence Join us on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Join the Groupsite
Being Present You’re here!
How do I stay in contact?
Community Circles
@C_Circles
www.bit.ly/ComCirclesBlog
www.community-circles.co.uk
Email: [email protected]