The Understanding People (UP) project is all about creating spaces where people feel respected, and relationships thrive

Whatever the workplace, people are intrinsically connected to each other through a complex web of relationships.

The health and strength of those connections – how much we trust each other, how we communicate and manage conflict or change, how respectful we are – directly affects the wellbeing of employees, managers and ultimately the success of the organisation.

Despite the importance of healthy working relationships, most organisations don’t have the time or skills to tend to them. Conflict and low levels of trust and cooperation leads to people leaving, burn out and periods of absence with no reintegration – the human and financial cost can be huge. Usually, investing in positive, respectful relationships is more successful and cost-effective than fixing broken ones within a toxic culture. But how do you do that?

UP Project supports healthy workplaces and communities by making spaces for connection, understanding and respect. Drawing on restorative justice practices – with skills and knowledge developed through years of experience as restorative facilitators – UP offers something new by creating experiences in which people are heard, respected and empowered, and mutual understanding and trust is built.