Workshops and meetups
Building trust, shifting power, and making space for change
This series is a remix of Equal Care’s Phase One sessions and resources, combined with the wisdom and expertise of the members of the Circle. It’s a space for communities to reflect - both individually and collectively - on their relationship with power and how they see that power shifting in their local area. The focus is on equipping people with language and practices that support healthy ways of holding and sharing power.
Care and support is the starting lens, but we won’t limit ourselves to it if the conversation naturally expands. These sessions are also a chance to work intentionally on addressing under-representation by inviting in voices and perspectives that might not yet be in the room.
What can these sessions look like?
Over the past few years, we’ve held a wide range of workshops: some design-focused, others research-based, and some oriented towards immediate action. The shape of this next stage will look different in each place and will grow directly out of the work done in Phase One. Below are a few examples of sessions we’ve run before: each of them adaptable, co-designed with Circle Founders, and shaped by the needs of the local community.
Originally used when Equal Care Co-op was forming, this workshop creates a welcoming space for listening, trust-building and connection.
It’s an ideal starting point for a longer workshop series and a great way to engage early participants — especially those who may be giving or receiving support in the Circle. It also helps strengthen links between different Equal Care communities.
The process:
Individual reflection Participants respond to prompts like:
“When I hear the word care, my first thoughts are…”
“My experiences of care and support are…”
“If I could change one thing about how people give or receive care, it would be…”
Group conversation In groups of 5–7, people take turns sharing using a talking object, with structured rounds to ensure everyone has a chance to speak and reflect:
Round 1: Share a thought from your reflection
Round 2: Respond or go deeper on your own point
Open discussion (with optional use of the talking object)
Closing round: Share a thought or question you want to explore further
This simple format can lead to powerful, personal conversations — and ensures everyone’s voice is heard.
The beauty of Open Space Technology is that it offers a flexible, participant-led format that invites people to propose and shape the conversations they most care about. It supports reflection, imagination, and action.
Participants suggest session topics at the start, then self-organise into breakout groups to explore them. The format works well online using platforms like Qiqo, which allow people to move freely between conversations.
A scribe in each session captures the discussion, and all notes are shared with participants. It’s a dynamic way to surface ideas, build ownership, and involve large numbers of people.
A practical workshop that supports the Circle in preparing for contracting, evaluation, and data literacy. The session explores how social care contracts work (and how they could work better), what transparency means in practice, and how the Circle can shape services to serve real needs - not just tick boxes.
Designed as an Open Tendering workshop, it introduces members to key concepts and decision-making processes in a grounded, accessible way.
The culmination of Phase 2 and a celebration of the journey so far.
This event marks the moment of transition into Phase 3: where care and support begin to be exchanged. The launch is a space for action, connection and reflection.
Activities might include:
Signing up for roles within the Circle
Registering as independent workers
Beginning to match people giving and receiving support
Reflecting on the journey and sharing stories
Looking ahead to what comes next
It’s a milestone moment that both looks back and opens the door to what’s possible.
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