Better Places Together: Rethinking Engagement & Social Value
Words from PLACED Director, Jo Harrop:
“Yesterday we took a risk. We put on a conference all about engagement, involving local voices and how we can deliver more meaningful social value.
It was risky for many reasons.
We had no sponsorship as we dedicated that to PLACED Academy. We only had the idea six months ago and we are a small and very busy team. We've never done a conference. We removed the expert panel presentations full of guidance and top tips and flipped them into stories and creative group reflection sessions. Jenga at a conference? Why not!
But more than anything, it was risky as it was everything PLACED is about - bringing people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences together to talk, collaborate and plan, share stories and perspectives and think about how collective action can make a difference. And we didn't know if anyone would join.
We are so, so incredibly thrilled by what happened!
The room was full with over 200 amazing people from a rich variation of backgrounds, careers, experiences and ages. Conversations were genuinely inclusive and dynamic from the start. There were no awkward moments - whether new to the conference scene or a regular participant, people were able to connect in their small groups comfortably. People were relaxed. We had young people and those with learning disabilities, local authorities and design teams, charities and third sector bodies.
Our Storytellers were simply amazing. There were a range of approaches and responses to the brief, stories were emotive, challenging and often poetic. They set the scene for vibrant discussion focused on what ‘good’ looks like, why we aren't achieving it and what actions we can take to ensure we do better. Our final panel of young people from our hashtag#PLACEDAcademy Alumni and Student Ambassadors perfectly demonstrated the importance of youth voice.
And our roundup activity of building a wall of action was embraced by participants in a way we didn’t expect!
And our roundup activity of building a wall of action was embraced by participants in a way we didn’t expect!
So, thank you. Thank you to all those who decided to be brave with us. To the Storytellers who gave us tales of places they love. Our young volunteers who helped everything run smoothly and recorded the sessions. Our PLACED Academy Alumni and Ambassadors who stepped on the stage and spoke brilliantly - a scary place for many adults. Thank you to our facilitators who ensured everyone was included. To RealWorth for their fringe event the day before. To each and every person who took part and was brave in their contributions. And to all the amazing PLACED and WEDGE Collective team who put their hearts and souls into it.
Yesterday showed one thing. If we are brave, take risks and listen, we really can create Better Places Together.”