Defeating Narratives of Division training August 2025 – December 2026
Many good people, exasperated at the growth in narratives of division feel frozen and unable to act as they are unsure how to make a positive impact.
This new series of informal online and in-person training workshops begins from the assumption that people who hold divisive views are not necessarily bad people, and that we have a wider responsibility to:
- Engage with them about their views; and
- Work with them to address the issues that are causing their resentment (usually cross-community issues such as low paid, insecure work, housing affordability, the quality of public services, and the breakdown in an inclusive sense of ‘us’ within communities).
Delivered in partnership with the Ella Baker School of Organising’s experienced facilitators, these sessions will equip people active at a grassroots level to effectively act to reduce tension, build unity and address resentments.
Attendees can expect to learn ways to create long term change by developing the confidence, skills and tools to build genuine understanding and long-term connections in their own spaces and communities. Sessions will be supported by practical informative resources.
By convening and equipping a layer of well-placed local people with the skills and knowledge to intervene effectively, we hope to strengthen the resilience of communities, build connections of goodwill and enable grassroots responses to misinformation.
See upcoming workshops & book your free place
What will I learn?
Over the last 18 months, we’ve seen narratives of division poisoning community relations, escalating to violent conflict on our streets. More and more otherwise decent people seem to be being drawn into blaming ‘minorities’ for problems that they have not caused. It could be someone in your group of friends, your family or your wider circle. Sound familiar?
These sessions will share ways that you can create long term change by developing your confidence and skills so that you can build genuine understanding and lasting connections in your own spaces and communities.
The training will help you
- Recognise that even good people can sometimes hold problematic views
- Identify the particular frictions between groups within your community and explore interventions to reduce these frictions
- Help to find ways to engage meaningfully with people who have been influenced by toxic narratives
- Identify ways to refocus your community on finding solutions rather than blaming scapegoats
- Strengthen local democracy through building strong inclusive community groups
- Respond effectively when if the far right announce a divisive march or protest in your area
Join the mailing list to find out more and sign up to workshops.
These training sessions are supported by the Community Cohesion Fund (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Community Recovery Fund) administered by Blackpool Council.
The fund was created to support those communities impacted by the public disorder that took place in July/August 2024. It aims to Foster Community Understanding: Promoting a shared understanding of the issues at a community level, developing community cohesion.
Comments
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Cath
Hi Dawn
The online sessions are for people who can’t make the in person workshops. We’re offering both online and in-person as people have a range of needs.
There will be more in-person sessions in the new year.
All the best
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dawn johnson (offline attender of above course
hi i can not do online events 1 i dont have the internent time or locations sutable to try
as i dont have the hearing for online training im hearing impaired and i can not use headphones etc
and the are not any rooms to use zoom for the disabeled im also dislexic
i can only cope with emails as iv been used to doing all my life .
i need offline training face to face i also not have the memory to lern bsl .mackaton etc sign language
which makes my life even harder. i also have raynards and arthritus in my hands which means a cant use my fingers in sign positions