Survival of the Kindest

The story of how a policeman became instrumental in setting up a Cornish dance group is fantastic. The TR14-ers, named by its young members, are based in Cambourne in Cornwall (a.k.a TR14) and was set up in 2005 by David Aynsley our guest this week. David’s core of compassion, and his understanding of how communities can be nurtured led him to sign his Neighbourhood Police Team up to the first ever Connecting Communities programme run by our former guest Hazel Stuteley, and the rest is history. It is an extraordinary story that shows what policing can do. The TR14-ers are now a self-run charity, the lessons are free, the young dancers self-organise and lead the dance sessions. This conversation is full of stories that show how you can feed what is good in a community that to many looks like there is nothing, how you can be a supportive police force, how amazing and hard that is, but mostly how worth it it is. Follow Survival of the Kindest on Twitter [https://twitter.com/sotk_pod], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/compassion_pod/] and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you like to listen to get our episodes as they are released. Email us compassion.pod@gmail.com

This week Julian talks to regenerative economist Bennet Zelner. While economics is not something that is habitually associated with compassion, in this episode Bennet highlights how it affects us on a day to day level: How our current economic system is draining monetary resources from communities for the benefits of shareholders, and how large the impact of having a different system could be. Bennet’s work is revolutionary, and his mission of injecting humanity back into economics is well funded and long over due. By changing the way we think about money - as something that benefits many rather than just a few, we can change society. Follow Survival of the Kindest on Twitter [https://twitter.com/sotk_pod], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/compassion_pod/] and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you like to listen to get our episodes as they are released. Email us compassion.pod@gmail.com

This week Julian talks to Nicole Hewlett. Nicole grew up unaware of her aboriginal roots until her teens, however she always had a deeper understanding of herself which somehow acknowledged a difference, and she always was drawn and emotionally and socially connected socially to minority communities. After studying Psychological sciences and then public health, Nicole now works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well non-indigenous communities, creating accessible palliative care that breaks down the current intrinsic barriers. The very deep knowledge that indigenous communities hold, from being over 60,000 years old, and from always drawing on their ancestors and their communal learning, is an entirely different understanding of life, death, people, animals and place, to the one we learn in schools and in life in general. Throughout the conversation Nicole gives shape to these ideas (in a language which inherently has tried to stamp out the aboriginal culture for many years), and what non-indigenous communities can learn, and how not having this understanding has been affecting the way society does social care, death and dying. Follow Survival of the Kindest on Twitter [https://twitter.com/sotk_pod], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/compassion_pod/] and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you like to listen to get our episodes as they are released. Email us compassion.pod@gmail.com

This week Julian and Hazel conclude their conversation about Hazel’s amazing work after the enormous success of the Beacon project in Cornwall. While Hazel had a disappointing stint with the Government, who failed to grasp the importance of what she achieved, her success did not go unnoticed. Through speaking up and down the country Hazel met a hoard of doctors, and various academics, who understood how transformative the Beacon project had been. Hazels work since then has been no less successful. And throughout all of it she has held onto the key principles that drove the initial project - connection, listening, and giving people space. While it sounds simple, it is incredibly hard to execute with authenticity. For more information on the work that Hazel has done you can tune in to next week’s episode, and also look at C2 [https://www.c2connectingcommunities.co.uk/about-us/c2-family/]. Follow Survival of the Kindest on Twitter [https://twitter.com/sotk_pod], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/compassion_pod/] and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you like to listen to get our episodes as they are released. Email us compassion.pod@gmail.com

This week is the first part of a conversation with Hazel Stutley O.B.E. Her work has been lauded widely for both the impact that it has had and the way that stakeholders are at the centre of her work, in a way that has been truly transformative. In part 1 Hazel talks about how she came to community development, and in particular how she started the Beacon project in Cornwall which went on to win awards and, more importantly, had remarkable side effects on the community ranging from better school grades for primary school children, to safer housing. Hazel’s kindness, and belief in the ability of humans to also be kind and engaged given the opportunity, shines throughout this episode. Through connection and communication grounded in compassion, Hazel has achieved so much, and shown what is possible. For more information on the work that Hazel has done you can tune in to next week’s episode, and also look at C2 [https://www.c2connectingcommunities.co.uk/about-us/c2-family/] Follow Survival of the Kindest on Twitter [https://twitter.com/sotk_pod], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/compassion_pod/] and subscribe on Apple, Spotify or wherever you like to listen to get our episodes as they are released. Email us compassion.pod@gmail.com