•How did this 'land' with you and in you?

•How did you respond, in your heart, in your life, individually as communities?

•What might we do to help shape what happens next? What do we feel needs to change? What is our work in that?

•What can we be hopeful about?

Further reading from HOPE not hate blog:

Racist Violence Rocks UK: unprecedented wave of far-right rioting – HOPE not hate

• What did you notice?

• How would you feel?

• What would you do?

• What are the obstacles to action?

  
  

Scenario 1 - Reparations

Claims for reparation for an institution that was abolished nearly 200 years ago is a bit of a stretch. Quakers' connection with slavery should certainly be investigated but for information not for political purposes.

Scenario 2 - Charity shop

While browsing in a charity shop, I overhear two customers chatting with the volunteer serving behind the counter about a mutual friend.  The friend's daughter currently works for an organisation supporting asylum seekers.  One of them asks rhetorically "What does she do?  Tell them to go back to where they came from?"  At which point they all laugh.  I was not queuing to pay as I'd not found anything I wanted to buy.  I left the shop, telling myself things like: I was not in a position to intervene as I had not been part of the conversation, I did not know these people and was unlikely to ever meet them again, and that I was outnumbered...  What might you have done differently?

Scenario 3 - Peace building and reconciliation

Our decades – centuries – of peacebuilding and reconciliation experience also tells us that speaking uncomfortable truths with love, including to friends who find it distressing and painful to hear, is a necessary step on that journey to true peace. How might this framing change a difficult conversation you have had, or one you want to have?

Letter case study

We – the clerks of xxxxxxxxx QLM – would like to meet with you to discuss how best to respond to Britain Yearly Meeting’s latest instruction about becoming an ‘anti-racist’ community. Whilst it is just the latest in a long line of dictates from Friends House, this one feels especially trying and challenging.

Firstly, there is the insinuation that, unless Friends are involved in some kind of activism around this area, they are, by default, racist. Much of the so-called activism we see feels very much like what is often referred to as ‘virtue-signaling’, intended to make the person involved look better and feel better about themselves, but not really bringing about any meaningful change.

Secondly, the apparent yoking of this with the retelling of Quakers’ historic relationship with the slave trade seems spurious at best. Quakers worked tirelessly to end the slave trade and to suggest/imply otherwise seems extraordinary; to suggest that some kind of compensation might be due is indefensible.

Thirdly, our meeting is in an area where there are no – or at least very few – black or coloured people. Therefore, this is unlikely to impact directly on our meeting. If someone who wasn’t white were to turn up, we would, of course, do everything we could to make them welcome. However, we doubt that the quietness of Quaker meeting would particularly suit them and perhaps this might go some way to explaining the current handwringing about the ‘demographic’ of Britain Yearly Meeting.

We would like to meet with you to discuss how we are supposed to respond to this as a meeting. We feel more detached than ever from a central organisation that seems more driven by the whims of popular opinion than prayerful discernment and Quaker tradition.

For "homework" following the November session, Friends were invited to notice their own scenarios to bring along and reflect together on:

What did we do (or not do)?

How did we feel?

What were the obstacles?

What would help us to feel more prepared?

Link to Paul Parker's article:

Don’t just wait nicely for our civic space to be repaired – fierce challenge can be rooted in love < Sheila McKechnie Foundation

A&Q32 Bring into God’s light those emotions, attitudes and prejudices in yourself which lie a the root of destructive conflict, acknowledging your need for forgiveness and grace.

A&Q17 …Think it possible that you may be mistaken. 

Questions for reflection:

Do you try to protect yourself when you face criticism?

How do you accept your own mistakes?

Do you see mistakes as a failure or an opportunity to learn?

PERFECTIONISM & our inner critic

In a world where perfectionism is often internally felt – in other words the perfectionist fails to appreciate their own good work, focusing on inadequacies and mistakes, and working with a harsh inner critic…

How can we realise that being your own worst critic does not actually improve the work and often contributes to low morale among the group?

SENSE OF URGENCY

In a world where a continued sense of urgency makes it difficult to take time to be inclusive, encourage democratic and/or thoughtful decision-making, to think long-term, and to consider consequences…

How can we develop realistic plans, an understanding that things take longer than anyone expects, and allow time to set goals of inclusivity and diversity so that everyone has a chance for their voice to be heard?

ONLY ONE RIGHT WAY

In a world where some do not see value in the culture of other communities…

How can we create meaningful relationships with that community while never assuming that we or our organisation know what’s best for others?

WORSHIP OF THE WRITTEN WORD

In a world where if it’s not in a memo (or for Quakers - a “minute”), it doesn’t exist, and those with strong documentation and writing skills are more highly valued, even where the ability to relate to other people is key…

How can we come up with alternative ways to document what is happening and work to recognise the contributions and skills that every person brings?

FEAR OF OPEN CONFLICT

In a world where people are scared of expressed conflict and when someone raises an issue that causes discomfort, the response is to blame the person for raising it…

How can we distinguish between being impoliteness and raising difficult issues?

DEFENSIVENESS - Resilience

In a world where a lot of energy in the organisation is spent trying to make sure that people’s feelings aren’t getting hurt or working around defensive people…

How can we give people credit for being able to handle more than you think?

Link to video

https://vimeo.com/1093780141/f80c816284

Quicksand Poem by Guante

https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/upon-stumbling-chance-man-waist-deep-quicksand-need-second-process/

Quotes from Martin Luther King sermon

“Who is my neighbour? ‘I do not know his name’, says Jesus in essence. ‘He is anyone toward whom you are neighbourly. […] He is a certain man – any needy man – on one of the numerous Jericho roads of life.’ So Jesus defines a neighbour not in a theological definition, but in a life situation. […]”

“The Samaritan possessed the capacity for a dangerous altruism. When we ask why the priest and the Levite did not stop to help the wounded man, numerous suggestions come to mind. […] Perhaps they were on their wayu to an organizational meeting of a Jericho Road improvement Association. Certainly this would have been a real need, for it is not enough to aid a wounded man on the Jericho Road; it is also important to change the conditions which make robbery possible. [….] it is possible that the priest and the Levite were afraid that if they stopped, they too would be beaten. […] I imagine that the first question that the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But […] the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

Raid in Glasgow. "Van man" got under the van and he stayed there the whole time. Neighbours were let go. Potential detainees were released. Quite an extreme and visible example of solidarity.

Unplanned opportunity for showing solidarity - a market van with two black people selling chicken. Accused of not having the right permit. I went over and stood and watched. Security guard felt uncomfortable and went away. Listened to the vendor's story. Someone else came to help with permit.

A distressing memory after working in London and travelling back. Intending to put headphones in and ignore everything. There was a group of passengers who had been drinking and were loud. The language became racist and directed towards a young Muslim woman. Honest about self interest, self protection and feeling afraid, but not wanting to do nothing. I sat down at the table opposite the woman and another couple moved there with her. A gentle conversation - we'll stay here as long as you want us to. Agressive comments from the other table abated. As the woman walked away, she said thank you - I'll remember you every day.

Without impacting greatly the people of colour involved, I acted in the moment. At the station, tickets were being checked only for people of colour. I offered to show my ticket but the response was "I trust you". I questioned the lack of trust for others whose tickets were being checked.

Followed by a time of worship sharing to respond to these stories or share our own.

Quotation from Martin Buber, the Jewish philosopher: all real living is encounter.

We heard from Edwina and a piece written by Nova Reid about the impact of hurricane Melissa. After sharing reflections from a few Friends who attended the Earth Care gather, we shared in breakout rooms our responses to a phrase from the Earth Care Gather Epistle:

What has been your journey of relationship and entanglement, of seeking to answer that of God in the other, of being shown our darkness and led to new life? How has it changed you? How does it still challenge you?

Then we set aside a time for carrying out and action or making a start on something we plan to continue. Donating money or items, finding an organisation we want to work alongside, writing to our local council or our MP.

Opportunities for action

1. @solidarityyaad_ja - have been doing brilliant work on climate justice, land justice and healing justice since inception with a focus on supporting vulnerable communities such as women, girls and non-gender conforming people in Jamaica. I've had the pleasure of meeting some of the team. They need your support.

Support Solidarity Yaad

2. Treasure Beach - home to Calabash Literary Festival in St Elizabeth has been decimated. I have many people I love and care about there.

This Go Fund Me link has been set up for Treasure Beach recovery and is being set up by friends from GeeJam Hotel and will go to BREDs Treasure Beach Foundation - if you would like to donate direct to BREDs you can in US or JMD currencies only.

Support Treasure Beach Recovery

3. The Perinatal Specialist is on the ground in Jamaica providing perinatal support and supplies for new and expectant families and working with local orgs. 

Support families

4. Black Curatorial in collaboration with @houseofdread_ @Blackeatsldn @blackthingsuk and others,  have rapidly organised a GoFund me to get financial resource to folks impacted by Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean including Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, Bahamas and Dominica and are working with local orgs to disseminate. 

Send support across the Caribbean

5. Extensive lists of non-perishable items needed and drop off points (Essex, Croydon, Wembley and Birmingham in the U.K.) are on the Jamaica High Commission website http://www.jhcuk.org/ and instagram @jhclondon

https://www.gofundme.com/f/send-money-to-dundee-pen-jamaica/

https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/ (also supporting Haiti)

https://www.projecthope.org/

https://wck.org/ (also supporting Haiti)

https://www.gofundme.com/f/emergency-relief-for-lbtq-jamaicans-after-hurricane-melissa/

Resources

Earthcare gather epistle:

https://livingwitness.org.uk/gathering-2025/

Climate Justice booklets:

https://www.quaker.org.uk/action/campaigning-and-advocay/current-climate-justice-campaigns/exploring-faith-and-climate-justice

Topics include: Loss and Damage - exploring historical responsibility and reparations

https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/module-2-loss-and-damage

And Solidarity in social justice https://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/module-6-solidarity-in-social-justice

With ideas for local, national and global action

Book recommendation from a youth climate activist:

https://www.thesmallcitybookshop.co.uk/product-page/it-s-not-that-radical-climate-action-to-transform-our-world

· Where did you learn what kinds of bodily expression were acceptable or unacceptable?

· Whose bodies were trusted, and whose were feared or managed?

· How might our ideas of wellness or regulation carry unexamined histories?

The session was introduced drawing our attention to Resmaa Menakem's "My Grandmother's hands" book of somatic practices for white bodies, bodies of culture and police bodies. Also our tendancy to say "I'm okay" when doing racial justice work, even when we are not - think of the Black Knight in Monty Python's Holy Grail!

Lyndsay Burtonshaw led 2 somatic practices. The first explored our length, width and depth, representing dignity, community and purpose. The second, called "Entering" helped us to imagine moving away from and closer to a challenge we are called to work on, and to think about what we need to support us.

Lyndsay also offered an alternative option of sharing with others in a breakout room. And there was space at the end of the session for further sharing.

Some resources for further exploration: 

·      The Body Keeps the Score, by Besser van der Kolk, MD. A classic in this area, focusing on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in long term tauma

·      My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem. This book focuses specifically on racial trauma, and is useful for white people working on racial justice. 

·      Sustaining Open Hearts, by Leyla Welkin Ph.D. This is focused on Humanitarian workers in all sectors. Leyla was the lead psychotherapist for QCEA’s Helping the Helpers project 2018-2019. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF2PITKbvok

see also QF&P 29.01 - How can we walk with a smile into the dark?

The three dimentions: length, breadth and height. Love yourself - that is the length of life. Love your neighbour - that is the breadth of life. Love God - that is the height of life.

Reflections shared included:

• We need to acknowledge the grief before we can turn to kindness

• Love is what holds the universe together

• We see that kindness does not extend to action in the world

• We need to talk about power, fear, hierarchies and structures, being realistic without losing heart

  
  

A challenging presentation followed by questions and answers about the current situation and historical roots of the colonisation and mineral exploitation of DR Congo

CMC need financial support for their work in DRC. For details of how to donate, or for bank details in order to do a bank transfer or set up a standing order email conflictmineralscampaign@gmail.com Or you can send a cheque payable to Project 55 to Conflict Minerals Campaign, 6 Crosshill St, Manchester M16 7LU

DRC: EU must move from concern to action for human rights in Eastern DRC – Joint letter – European Institutions Office

The Reparations working group will be bringing prepared ministry to the next YM (at Manchester in July 2026) and also reporting back at future YM sessions in November 2026 and February 2027.

They are also hosting a conference at Friends House (and blended) on 23rd October 2026 to which we are all invited.

During the session we had the opportunity to reflect in small groups on how we might respond to the following questions: 

Q1) My ancestors were not plantation owners or direct beneficiaries of the trafficking of Africans across the Atlantic. They were poor coal miners, Irish labourers, working-class people, immigrants, people who experienced religious persecution, or others who experienced poverty, discrimination, and exploitation.

More broadly, many groups throughout history have suffered severe hardship, including indentured labourers, industrial workers, and impoverished communities across England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and elsewhere.

Given that history, why should the issue of reparations for the trafficking of Africans across the Atlantic matter to me?

Q2) As Quakers, many of us are deeply concerned about present-day injustices: the treatment of asylum seekers, climate change, and modern forms of enslavement and exploitation. Should we not focus our attention on these current issues rather than on historical injustices?

Q3) How would a transformed Quaker community look differently from the church today through our work on reparation?

Q4) How would we engage with people who are unconvinced? Do we go to them, do they come to us? How can we engage people in coming on this journey?

A 1 day training session 'Tackling Racism Restoratively' will be held on Tuesday 15th September, online, 9am - 4pm. The cost is £25 per person

To book a place please email lucy@rjworking.co.uk