Communicating for Cohesion 0930-1230

What is it about?

This is one of a series of community sessions being held between January and March 2026.

Sessions will be facilitated by Belong, the nations leading cohesion and integration organisation, who exist to connect, support and mobilise all those working for a more integrated, less divided society.

This session will explore skills and strategies about communicating more effectively with people who hold views that you may find challenging, inaccurate or offensive.

Who is it for?

Sessions are open to anyone who is interested in communicating more effectively about important local issues. All participants can expect to be treated with respect and welcome, regardless of their identity and/or political views.

We want sessions to host a variety of voices and experiences, so places are limited to one per person, or one person per organisation initially.

Sessions will take place in multiple venues across Norfolk.

What can I expect?

Challenging Conversations

In this part of the session, participants are invited to share their experiences of communicating about issues related to identity, politics and polarisation, with people who hold different views.

The aim of this part of the session is to enhance understanding and communication between attendees and to consider ways to help ‘lower the temperature’ when strong opinions differ.

This part of the session will make space for all views to be heard, with the aim of increasing the possibilities for meaningful dialogue between members of the Norwich community.

Skillshare

Drawing on the experiences shared in the Challenging Conversations part of the session, facilitators will share a range of conflict management models and strategies, along with examples of how to use them in real life conversations.

Participants will have the opportunity to practice some of the strategies shared, with the aim of building confidence to have conversations about challenging issues that impact community cohesion.