Let’s Talk Wakefield is about starting conversations, rather than defaulting to polarised debate. It will provide a space for residents to listen to each other and build the foundation for local communities to work through difficult issues.

This is how we can build community, despite our differences and the divisive narratives that push us apart.

Wakefield was chosen by The Jo Cox Foundation as an area to pilot this new programme, and the Nova Team have been delighted to work with them to bring Let’s Talk Wakefield to the district.

What’s planned?

There is a series of six sessions running throughout the summer, each including informal conversation, having lunch together and focused dialogue around a topic. They are not designed to change people’s views or get participants to come to a consensus on a topic, instead our focus is on people engaging in conversation.

The programme will only work if everyone feels safe and able to contribute openly, so the sessions will be facilitated and there are clear rules about conduct.

By running the programme, we're looking to support:

• Strengthened face-to-face relationships, trustand mutual understanding in communities
• Residents to engage with difficult topics in a constructive and relationship-based way
• A model that is shaped by local context and topics that matter locally

Who can take part?

We’re aiming to work with a group of ten local residents from different backgrounds and with different viewpoints. Halfway through the series, participants will be asked to invite another person to join the group to widen the conversation and involve people with different opinions and perspectives.

We are recruiting participants who:

• Live in the Wakefield district
• Are available on Thursday lunchtimes (6 August to 17 September, in the city centre)
• Have a range of connections and relationships within the local area
• Speak and understand English to alevel that would enable them to take part in these sessions without translation

To support people to talk part, we will be covering reasonable travel expenses to and from sessions. We will also provide food and drink during the sessions, and offer support during and between the sessions.

How to support this work

Would you like to take part? Complete the sign up form by Friday 31 July.

You can download the project poster if you want to share this opportunity or know someone who you think would be interested.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the programme before signing up, you can contact Elsie from the Nova team at elsie.heslam@nova-wd.org.uk

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Nova Wakefield District is a local charity (registered charity no 1143640) that supports voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations across the district. This project is part of our work to develop and strengthen community partnerships, and we have been working with our networks of local community organisations to recruit participants.