Key Takeaways
- The charity Who Is Your Neighbour? facilitates difficult conversations in white working-class communities to address topics such as immigration and community change.
- The charity’s approach is based on three principles: "Better out than in," "Most people are alright," and "Curiosity is good."
- The goal is to create a safe space for people to express their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or backlash.
- The charity’s work is focused on building bridges between different communities and promoting understanding and empathy.
- The charity is one of five organizations partnering with the Guardian in its 2025 Hope appeal, which supports grassroots projects that bring communities together and promote hope and pride.
Introduction to Who Is Your Neighbour?
The town of Rotherham was recently hit by Storm Bram, causing widespread flooding and disruption. However, inside a local community center, a group of military veterans gathered for their weekly meeting, where they engaged in difficult conversations about topics such as immigration and community change. The group was facilitated by the charity Who Is Your Neighbour?, which aims to create a safe space for people to express their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment or backlash.
The Community and Its Challenges
The area of Rotherham where the community center is located is predominantly white, with a history of mining and a strong sense of community. However, the community has also experienced significant challenges, including the closure of the local mine and the child sexual exploitation scandal that took place in the town. These events have left deep scars and a sense of grievance among the community. The community center itself is a hub of activity, with a wall of black-and-white photos of the battle of Orgreave, where miners were beaten by police officers. The center also has a strict dress code, with a sign on the door stating that tracksuit bottoms are not allowed on Friday and Saturday nights.
Facilitating Difficult Conversations
The facilitators from Who Is Your Neighbour?, Brad and Anna, announced the morning’s discussion topics: what does it mean to be British, and what does the union jack or English flag mean to you? The group of veterans engaged in a lively and thoughtful discussion, sharing their thoughts and feelings about these topics. One participant, Jane, raised the issue of child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and the fact that many of the perpetrators were Pakistani men. However, another participant, Ali, who is Asian and a veteran, responded thoughtfully, objecting to the labeling of the abusers as Pakistani and emphasizing that they were born and bred in Britain.
The Charity’s Approach
Who Is Your Neighbour? was formed in 2010 in response to the need for a safe space for people to discuss difficult topics. The charity’s approach is based on three principles: "Better out than in," which means inviting people to say what’s on their mind; "Most people are alright," which means starting from the assumption that nobody in the conversation intends harm; and "Curiosity is good," which means gently prodding to find out what might be behind a comment. The charity’s chief executive, Tariq, emphasized that most people are sincere and good-hearted and do not want to cause harm to others. However, he also acknowledged that social media and the media can create a narrative that emphasizes division and conflict.
The Importance of Giving People a Voice
The work of Who Is Your Neighbour? is simple yet rare. The charity gives people a voice and the chance to speak on subjects that many feel they cannot discuss. Participant Sue emphasized that the charity’s approach allows people to express themselves without fear of judgment or backlash. The charity’s facilitators create a safe space for people to share their thoughts and feelings, and they gently prod to find out what might be behind a comment. By giving people a voice, the charity aims to build bridges between different communities and promote understanding and empathy.
Conclusion
The work of Who Is Your Neighbour? is essential in building a more cohesive and compassionate society. By creating a safe space for people to discuss difficult topics, the charity promotes understanding and empathy between different communities. The charity’s approach is based on the principles of "Better out than in," "Most people are alright," and "Curiosity is good." By giving people a voice and the chance to speak on subjects that many feel they cannot discuss, the charity aims to build bridges between different communities and promote hope and pride. The partnership between Who Is Your Neighbour? and the Guardian’s 2025 Hope appeal is a testament to the importance of this work and the need for more organizations like Who Is Your Neighbour? to promote community cohesion and social change.