Risk and trust

1 is the lowest level of trust and 5 is the highest.

We trust that community momentum will sustain and grow	3	For enthusiasm and energy to continue, there needs to be visible forward movement. This is closely tied to the timing of Phase Three, which depends on either securing upfront investment (through Equal Care’s community share offer) or winning a Local Authority contract. Although we are reasonably confident about both, their timelines may not match the pace of change the wider community hopes for. We can mitigate this by keeping communication open and celebrating small wins along the way.
We trust that we will reach enough of the Middleton community to achieve good representation and understanding of its strengths.	4	Equal Care is strongly committed to diversity and representation. Embedding culture-building work from the beginning helps to surface and act on any gaps, ensuring the Circle reaches and reflects a broad cross-section of the community. Continued attention to inclusive engagement will be key.
We trust that everyone involved (Equal Care and Circle Founders) will remain part of the project.	4	The core Equal Care staff are The core Equal Care staff are deeply committed to this work. In the event of sickness or unforeseen circumstances, Equal Care’s sociocratic governance model and broad support networks allow for continuity and replacement. We would also work with local networks to bring in new participants if a Circle Founder is unable to continue.