Where we’re coming from
Navigate has been working with groups for over 15 years. Many things have changed in those years, and some things have stayed the same. Again and again, we’ve encountered tension and conflict in groups, and oftentimes this conflict has roots at a systemic level. Unclear ways of making decisions, information that hasn’t been shared, people going above and beyond what they have time and energy for, in order to keep the group going - all resulting in frustration and hurt, as well as less effectiveness in achieving a group’s purpose.

For years, we’ve been supporting groups to develop their systems and ways of working together, using an approach that we call “Living Systems”. It’s hugely influenced by the work of Dominic Barter, and also Miki Kashtan, Donella Meadows, Frederic Laloux and others.

By “Living Systems” we mean more than just procedures or policies - it’s what is lived in the organisation, and so it’s ever changing. It’s the ongoing ways of handling things like making decisions, engaging with conflict, or organising support. These may be clearly agreed and spoken about, or just the way things happen.

Where we’re going
As we’ve tried to reach more groups with this work, we saw that some materials and resources would be useful - something people could refer to and that didn’t depend on us to be present for it.

And so we’ve begun: this guide to Living Systems is a first attempt at writing down our approach to working with systems. There will likely be further versions in the future. If you like, you can send us feedback on it at livingsystems@navigate.org.uk 

We’ve also begun working on an on-demand online course, based off the training we ran in autumn 2020 ‘Living Systems for Thriving Groups’. There will be videos, resources, reflection questions and templates to support you to work with your group on systems - all at your own pace. More on that in early 2022.

Share your systems with us
One thing we’d like your help with: something we often hear when doing this work is that examples would be really helpful - examples of systems that are up and running and functioning. If you - through work with us or independently - have a system that you’ve articulated in some way (be it written down, as a flowchart, as picture or another way) that you’d be up for us sharing with the world, please send it (preferably as a link) to: livingsystems@navigate.org.uk

Navigate is creating a space for different groups to come together to find ways to collaborate better, and to work through their differences, with our support, in order to build collective power. In this post I delve into why, and how we might support you.

What do groups, projects and organisations need to work together effectively and sustainably?
One of the most fundamental things that makes the difference between a group thriving or falling apart is its living social systems. By “Living Systems” we mean the ongoing ways of handling things like making decisions, engaging with conflict, or organising support. These may be clearly agreed and spoken about (explicit), or just the way things happen (implicit). A Living System is 3 dimensional and dynamic - more than just policies or procedures. Agreeing good ways to handle stuff like decision making or conflict is one of the most useful things we have seen for supporting a group to fulfil its purpose, navigate power and look after its people. 

We are offering a 9 week programme to support groups to develop systems that support them to do the work they do. Registrations have now closed.

In the past months, the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the failings and injustices of our current economic and social systems. We then witnessed the racist murder of George Floyd, and the further exposure of the extreme racial violence and inqualities embedded in our justice systems. Out of these tragedies, people worldwide are creating opportunities to start doing things differently, to imagine something new, to transform our communities, to build more equitable, compassionate and creative solutions which respond to everyone’s needs. 

The uprising against structural racism and the rapid rise of mutual aid groups in the UK shows that people are ready and willing to stand in solidarity and to care for each other. It shows that there is energy and desire to strengthen our local communities and respond to the needs within them.

This course is designed to support those working with their local communities. Read on for more information on the content and set up of the course.

Another thing we’re celebrating is that we’ve finally made the move to a new website making it,much easier to share our resource lists with you! You can find them on the resources page – and we’ll be adding to them and refining them as time goes by.

Of course, there have been huge changes outside of Navigate too. As the Covid-19 situation develops worldwide, we’re adapting what we’re offering to online settings. We’re exploring what the groups we work with most need to be effective and healthy during this crisis and how those things will continue to support us all to work collaboratively, equitably and caring for the needs of all life in the future. We’re still keen to hear from you, but do please be advised that we can’t commit to ‘in person’ meetings until social distancing measures are no longer necessary.
We’re excited to continue employing creative and innovative ways for working online, so do get in touch if you’d like support with....  

• making a tricky decision in your group
• engaging with conflict that’s alive or slumbering in your group
• crafting agreements and systems that will support your group to work together effectively and that serve everyone

... for example in the form of online workshops or online coaching

We offer our work for free to unfunded grassroots groups and for groups with an income we have a sliding scale, meaning you pay what you can afford. Contact us for more details on this.

Saturday 12th January 2019, 10.30 –5.30pm, Bristol
The class system is embedded in all of our lives and its not surprising that when we organise for social and environmental justice in our groups and networks that the same class oppressions are often perpetuated. This one day workshop aims to give space to reflect on our own experience of class, to build awareness of how class oppressions are reproduced in our groups and what we can do to change that, so that we can create stronger and more effective groups and movements for social change.

Thursday evening 28th February – Sunday 3rd March 2019

Would you like to learn how to facilitate groups that are stuck in disagreement to move forwards?
Do you want to better support groups to come up with decisions that work for everyone?
In this 3-day training, we will be exploring a process called Convergent Facilitation and learning how to facilitate effective collaborative decision-making. Convergent Facilitation is a method for bringing a group to decisions that everyone supports, by going into the disagreement and finding a way forward that includes what really matters to everyone involved.