Ways of Belonging 

'Ways of Belonging' is inspired by more people than it is possible to mention... naturally! Belonging is all about our relationships with others and the experiences that we have with them. This inspiration is to add to my thinking and research on belonging, which is laid bare in my book Weaving A Web of Belonging. 

In expanding my own thoughts on belonging, there is an opportunity to consider how we cultivate belonging that is healthy and connecting and meaningful. We can consider how different faces in multiple places and spaces, (a conceptual model of belonging that came out of my research and is explored further in the book), that I wanted to provide where others could join me. 

Some of what I share will make excellent resources for learning settings, for youth spaces, for research, for children's services, for community development, and for exploring your own connection to what it feels like to belong or to consider whether you feel or have felt unbelonging. 

This page, which is designed to be somewhere that I can make additions to over time, is the outcome. Enjoy and utilise... 

Belonging in education

LEARNING SETTINGS
Exploring belonging in education is not a new aspiration but rather something that seesaws in popularity and thinking. It's currently enjoying a bit of a resurgence which is a wonderful thing with The Centre for Young Lives calling for a 'new era of school inclusion and belonging'.  

Next up, take a look at the work of Dr Kelly Allen on education and belonging and also watch this little video from Edutopia. The National Children's Bureau completed an entire literature review (so you don't have to) on understanding and enhancing belonging in schools! 

The National Education Union explores why belonging in schools helps staff retention and there's a wonderful resource on Belonging in School and developing inclusive practices from Lewis, Zdorovtsova & Astle at the University of Cambridge. 

Check out Fixers UK, endless videos from young people on just about everything and a conversation between myself and Sarah Johnson focusing on all things belonging in education!

Belonging in care

Children in care, those coming out of care and care experienced adults 
The first place to guide you towards is of course my book, largely because there is little literature on belonging for care experienced older adults (as in, not young adults) who are the focus of my research.

For children and young people, the area of belonging is extensive not least in the area of 'permanency' but this page has a lot of resources on identities of children in care and of course identity and belonging are friends. 

Stigma, unbelonging and language are also all intertwined with belonging. 

I'm keen to share the work of Dr Rosie Canning who has dedicated much of her life to 'care leavers in fiction' which has a lens on belonging and unbelonging. One of the things that The Care Leavers Association does is run regular online groups that are steered to cultivate belonging and is a service for any age! 

belonging in poetry

The Power of Poetry
I start this section inviting you to read Chrissy Kelly's poem on Belonging which features in my book. I commission Chrissy to write poetry for all my books as there is no doubt in my mind that poetry cuts through the noise in ways like no other.

Poet and Philosopher David Whyte speaks so beautifully on Belonging and How to Be at Home in Yourself and I cannot tell you just how wise and how beautiful his thoughts are on belonging. 

Benjamin Zephania spent a lifetime talking about belonging... People will always need people and Janae Johnson uses the spoken word on The Power of Belonging. I also found the The Singing Words and Jean Little on Belonging where a range of poetry from disabled poets for younger audiences is shared.

Belonging in art

Finding Ourselves in Art
Visions of Belonging just cries out for community led, trauma informed, art projects where I would want to hang out. The art of Belonging podcast episode from The Tate considers the question of what it means to belong. 

This community project understands how artistic practices breaks down barriers and builds shared values.  There are more opportunities to understand how art and belonging work together to create communities from Chapel Art Studios.  Combining poetry and paint, this video explores the how of it all! 

This lovely 'art for belonging' space for refugees, brings together art, connection, nature and belonging. Exploring identity through the arts brings together many voices... 

Belonging in music

Resonance in Music
Where do I start? The belonging we might feel when we share a song, sing the lyrics of it together, harmonise the chorus exactly as it was meant.... When we gather in venues and listen to artists who manage to speak that which we can't quite find the words for... we belong. 

Music helps us bond, it increases cultural cohesion and influences the mental health of young people. Arguably, the removal of access to live music during the pandemic affected many people's mental wellbeing and all sorts of innovative ways of connecting through music were developed online. 

Jaime Surdynski explores music as cultivating belonging in this TED Talk focusing on chords and melodies.