‘Belonging begins by seeing people as whole people, not within different categories’

Rae Bell, Director of Community Building at Gloucester Community Building Collective, explores their approach to creating a culture with a genuine sense of belonging for everyone, regardless of age

At Gloucester Community Building Collective (GCBC), our ‘bring and share’ lunches happen regularly.

There is a homemade lasagne on the table, with a bowl of curry, salads, cakes, dumplings, homemade bread, fruit, and dishes whose names some of us are hearing for the first time. Someone is explaining why their grandmother always made this particular recipe for celebrations and someone else is persuading a colleague to try a flavour they’ve never tasted before.

On the surface, this can all seem frivolous, but for us, the lunches are about creating opportunities to know one another as people. They remind us that everyone brings something different to the table; that difference is something to be shared and celebrated rather than managed.

Over time, our shared meals have helped transform our working culture into one where people belong. We don’t just know each other’s job titles, areas we work in, and project updates; we know each other’s stories, values, passions and families. This has a positive impact on how we work together and creates a community outside our day-to-day work.

“Age defines us all, but it is just one part of an individual’s identity”

Community sits at the heart of everything we do at Gloucester Community Building Collective (GCBC). Our work is rooted in building stronger, more connected neighbourhoods, and we have learned that the same principles apply inside our organisation as they do outside it.

When I first came into leadership as a Community Builder these community building values were part of my leadership style. When leaders create space for people to be themselves, ask questions, contribute ideas and support one another, everyone benefits.

This has had a particular impact on how we think about age. It’s easy for organisations to talk about attracting younger talent or retaining experienced employees, but we have found that belonging begins by seeing people as whole people, not within different categories.

Age defines us all, but it is just one part of an individual’s identity. For example, a younger colleague may offer fresh ideas, confidence with emerging technology or a different perspective shaped by their experiences. An older colleague may bring years of wisdom, patience, deep relationships or a reassuring sense of perspective. But none of this is guaranteed.

We actively encourage every employee to think about what they bring to the organisation and what they can offer the team because when everyone is invited to contribute their strengths, people naturally begin to value one another’s differences rather than compare them.

Our recruitment is an important element of reflecting the inclusive culture we want to build, and we try to remove barriers wherever we can. Job descriptions are written in plain language, avoiding unnecessary jargon and are concise, so people can understand quickly what the role involves.

We offer one-to-one conversations before applications, so that people can ask questions and feel confident about applying. We also provide different ways to apply, recognising that not everyone is comfortable with the same recruitment process. Most importantly, we don’t rely solely on online advertising. Our community builders share employment opportunities through community hubs, conversations, by knocking on doors and via trusted local networks. Word of mouth remains the most powerful way to reach people who might never see themselves reflected in a traditional recruitment campaign, and for us, it has been - and continues to be - the most successful way we recruit.

Having good policies and statements are an important element to growing an inclusive culture, but what has been successful for us is focussing on the small moments: sharing lunch, listening well, removing barriers, celebrating different strengths and making space for every voice.

Find out more about the Gloucester Community Building Collective here.