Commoning Action Group

A shared space to come together, support each other, and shape what happens next at Hastings Commons

The Commoning Action Group (CAG) is a shared space for people connected to Hastings Commons to come together, support each other, and shape what happens next.

It’s a group built on care, listening, and trust. The aim is to learn together and from each other, tackle challenges, and get excited about everyone’s ideas. Decisions are made together, in ways that feel fair, grounded, and rooted in real experiences.

CAG brings together people connected to the commons who don’t often get the chance to meet — commercial tenants, residents, young people, co-workers, volunteers, staff, trustees, and people who take part in activities — creating an equal space to share skills, challenges, ideas and excitement, decide what matters, and what to do next.

There are no experts, no leaders, and no single right way to take part. The group is shaped by the people in it.

🤝Creating a space where people feel safe to take part

From the very first meeting, the group focuses on how it feels to be together.

We’ll start by exploring questions like:

What helps you feel comfortable and safe in a group like this?
What would you like to get out of being involved and what can you give?
What helps you feel more confident speaking, or taking part in your own way?

There is no pressure to lead, perform, or speak if you don’t want to.
Listening is just as valuable as talking, and everyone’s way of taking part is respected.

🌈 Supporting each other, not competing

This is not a competitive space. There are no “experts” and no single right way to contribute.

People support each other by listening, encouraging, and making space for different ways of thinking, communicating, and showing up. Confidence is built together, not through comparison or pressure. Gini and Donna will support this culture via the way they introduce and facilitate the first gathering.

Roles, ideas, and tasks can be shared over time, based on what people feel able and interested to do — without hierarchy, status, or expectation.

🧭 Connecting across the commons

Hastings Commons is made up of many different people, with different backgrounds, cultures, ages, and experiences.

CAG creates time and space for people to meet across those differences, build understanding, and find common ground. That might look like:

sharing skills or insights
thinking through challenges together
supporting each other with creative practice or events
imagining new ways the commons could grow or change

What happens is not decided in advance — it’s shaped by the people who take part.

🛠 Naming barriers and working through them together

We know that being part of a group can be difficult for many reasons — time, confidence, anxiety, caring responsibilities, money, access needs, energy levels, or past experiences.

We actively want to hear about anything that might make it hard for you to come or take part fully.

You can:

share this privately with Donna before the first meeting, or
bring it to the first session so the group can think together about how to reduce or remove those barriers

If something isn’t working, we want to know. The group will keep adjusting and learning together.

How will the group get started?

The first meeting will be facilitated by Donna Hayter and Gini Simpson, with a focus on setting the tone together rather than rushing into decisions.

Do I need experience or confidence?

No!

You don’t need: