Radical Kindness Week 2021 is taking place between 17-21 May 2021.
As part of Radical Kindness Week we have today published a set of conditions in our paper – ‘Cultivating Radical Kindness’ – that need to be in place for radical kindness to take root, including promoting diverse leadership, encouraging social mixing and creating kind and inclusive cultures.
Individuals and organisations are also encouraged to share their examples of radical kindness on social media (#RadicalKindness) and we have produced a digital toolkit to support with this.
The campaign is funded by Spirit of 2012.
Jo Broadwood, CEO of Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network, said:
“Radical kindness is simply those actions and activities that reach across differences to create stronger connections, trust and empathy. Organisations across the country are doing a fantastic job of bridging divides and bringing people together, at a time when it is more vital than ever. We hope through Radical Kindness Week we can shine a light on the great work that is happening and inspire others to take action.”
Ruth Hollis, CEO of Spirit of 2012, said:
“Social mixing − mixing across the traditional divides such as ethnicity, faith, disability, and class − is an incredibly powerful way to of reducing prejudice and promoting empathy between people. Opportunities for social mixing declined sharply during lockdown, while instances of civic support, community connection and mutual aid surged.
“As we emerge from lockdown, and reflect on the results of this month’s elections, we face a crossroads, with a situation that has the potential to both unite or divide sections of society. Radical Kindness Week is an opportunity to learn and share how kindness can bring people together. We have seen just how amazing people can be in a crisis, let’s build on this as we start on the road to recovery.”
About the project
Belong’s Radical Kindness project draws on findings from ‘Beyond Us and Them: Societal Cohesion in the Context of Covid-19’ a major research project funded by the Nuffield Foundation and conducted by Belong and the University of Kent. This study has revealed that local areas that had previously invested in social cohesion have demonstrated higher levels of connection, active social engagement, and positive feeling towards others over the course of the pandemic.
About Spirit of 2012
Spirit of 2012 is the London 2012 Games legacy fund. Spirit awards grants for inclusive arts, sports and volunteering activities in communities that bring people together to improve their wellbeing.
The National Lottery Community Fund founded Spirit in 2013 with a £47 million endowment to continue and recreate the spirit of pride, positivity and community that inspired people across the UK during the London 2012 Games.
Spirit of 2012’s grantholders range from national to small, hyper-local organisations. For more information visit www.spiritof2012.org.uk