Reflections from Stronger Things 2025: Listening, Connection and the Power of Community
- Rose Hill
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
Last week, we had the amazing chance to attend Stronger Things 2025, a gathering of changemakers, community leaders and thinkers, all focused on building stronger, more connected places. From grassroots activists to local authorities, the event brought together a diverse and thoughtful crowd to share learning, challenge assumptions, and spark action!
Across the talks we attended, one message came through loud and clear: if we want to build fairer, healthier communities, we need to centre people, relationships and trust.
In this blog we want to share some reflections from a few of the powerful talks we joined!
1. Social Capital as the “Secret Sauce” for Community Wellbeing
This talk, led by Dan Crowe, Anna Francis, Robin Fry and Grace Pollard, was a powerful reminder that where we live affects every aspect of our lives, but it’s not just about the buildings or services. It’s about relationships. Social capital was described as the “secret sauce” that helps communities thrive, especially in places facing economic hardship.
We explored three types of social capital:
Bonding – close relationships with neighbours and family
Bridging – connections beyond your immediate circle
Linking – relationships with people in power or decision-making roles
One real-world example that brought this to life was the £1 home project in Stoke-on-Trent. As part of a regeneration scheme, the local council sold neglected or empty houses for just £1 to local residents, on the condition they commit to refurbishing them and living there for at least five years. But what started as a housing initiative quickly became a catalyst for deep community building. Residents came together to transform not just buildings, but neighbourhoods, organising local improvements, starting projects like the Portland Works Community Hub, and creating new spaces for connection. It really showed what’s possible when trust, ownership and community support go hand in hand.
The conversation during this talk also highlighted how stronger relationships lead to better outcomes, from health to local economic growth, and how policy is starting to catch up. The Northeast Combined Authority, for example, is embedding social capital into its regional plans, showing that this isn't just a "soft" issue, but a foundation for real change.
2. From Active Listening to Radical Listening
This talk we attended, led by Karin Woodley, Will Cooper, and Sara Masters, really made us pause and reflect. We talk a lot about listening in community work, but this pushed it further.
The speakers introduced the concept of radical listening, a step beyond traditional 'active listening.' Unlike active listening, where the listener still guides the conversation or holds decision-making power, radical listening means fully letting go of control. It’s about:
Letting go of control entirely - not interrupting, not guiding, and not trying to “fix” or interpret what’s being said.
Recognising the speaker as the expert - especially when listening to those most excluded or marginalised. They are the specialists of their own lives.
Becoming a vessel - being fully present, quiet, and open, without preconceptions or an agenda.
Being okay with discomfort - radical listening often involves hearing truths that challenge the way we work, think, or lead.
One local government example stood out. Instead of holding a traditional consultation, a council leader held open listening sessions with one simple question: “What do you want to see change?” No surveys, no presentations, just space to speak.
This resonated so deeply with how we approach co-creation at CCC. Trust is built through presence and care, not just process.
Radical listening not just a technique, it’s a cultural and structural shift, one that aims to rebalance power and give real decision-making space to those who are usually unheard. Several speakers noted how transformative this practice can be in public services, especially when we move from consulting on solutions to co-creating them from scratch.
3. How Do We Build Community Cohesion in an Age of Polarisation and Populism?
This talk, led by Kristen Fussing, Rebecca Inskip, Sunder Katwala, Cllr Doug Pullen and Claire Kennedy, unpacked some of the most pressing questions facing communities today: How do we build trust when institutions are struggling to hold it? How do we foster cohesion across difference, in a time marked by division, isolation, and deepening inequality?
There was clear agreement that community cohesion isn’t something that “just happens”, it’s built through trust, shared space, and consistent investment in relationships. Whether it’s tackling intergenerational divides, addressing economic pressure, or bridging cultural differences, community work must be rooted in care, creativity and local knowledge.
Speakers emphasised the need for physical spaces like libraries, community centres, and parks, where people can come together informally and build natural, low-pressure relationships. But there was also recognition that connection happens everywhere, “community happens in pubs and football stadiums as much as community halls,” as one speaker put it.
The discussion also explored digital inclusion and cohesion, how the internet can both connect and isolate. While online tools have potential, especially for engaging younger people, they’re not a replacement for face-to-face connection. Local authorities were encouraged to blend digital and physical strategies, and invest in training for community workers to better reach people who are currently disengaged.
The message was clear: cohesion takes intention. It requires time, safe spaces, and the willingness to meet people where they are, not where we assume they’ll be.
What This All Means for Us at CCC
So many of the themes from Stronger Things align with our work at Co-Creative Connection.
We’ve always believed that art is a tool for connection, not just decoration. In every mural or workshop, our aim is to build social capital - to create spaces where people can bond with neighbours, bridge to new networks, and sometimes even link to decision-makers who want to listen.
The radical listening session reminded us of why we don’t come in with fixed ideas. We start with questions. We make space for stories. We let people shape their own contributions.
And the conversation around shared space? That’s exactly why our murals and public artworks matter. They turn blank walls into beacons of visibility, pride and possibility. They become places where people stop, talk, and remember they’re part of something.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
We left Stronger Things 2025 feeling inspired, recharged, and hopeful. There’s so much incredible work happening across the UK to build stronger, more connected communities, and we’re proud to be part of that movement!
If you’re a school, council, housing group or organisation looking to co-create with communities, we’d love to talk. Whether it's through creative workshops, murals or meaningful engagement strategies, we’re always up for building something that connects people to each other, and to the places they call home.
Get in touch with us to start a conversation. Let’s build something powerful, together!
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