Since 2013 our trainer Jamie has been supporting people to see themselves and their own experiences in discussions of equality, diversity and inclusion – even those who typically feel left out of the conversation.
He has worked with audiences across the three main sectors of public, private and voluntary. Frequent client organisations include Police Scotland, Glasgow University and Children’s Hearings Scotland. Among the thousands of delegates he has engaged there have often been those who come into the session feeling anxious, defensive, even angry – their arms firmly crossed and barriers up! Over the course of a session we have seen these barriers soften and dissolve countless times. Our core approach of describing inequality through the lens of our ‘mottos’ is a key factor. The mottos are short phrases that summarise patterns underlying the disparities we observe across society. An example is the phrase ‘Advantage is invisible to those that have it’. Paraphrasing from the renowned sociologist, Prof Michael Kimmel, this description often helps the more resistant participants to better understand their own reactions to discussions of inequality and privilege. A person never needs to be told about their own experiences of discrimination or disadvantage – they know those experiences all too well! But that same person rarely has the same level of insight into the advantages they experience, because those advantages almost invariably take the form of the absence of something. And recognising an absence is inherently difficult. Jamie often describes experiencing this phrase as something of a revelation for himself, and feedback over hundreds of sessions demonstrates it has the same explanatory power for so many of our delegates.
Other mottos seek to illustrate patterns of: how power is held and by whom; ways a person’s identity shapes their life experiences and beliefs about the world; and the role of both intention and impact in communication. With an approach rooted in Psychology we are motivated by enabling empathy across difference, creating engaging and supportive spaces for people to explore the often hidden patterns at play in our human-made world.
Jamie studied Psychology and Philosophy at Stirling University, before spending five years working as tour guide throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Indian Subcontinent. He then returned to Glasgow to work with the Scottish Refugee Council for eight years, and has been Director of Spurway Training since 2013. He has qualifications in training and development, and has been trained in the Gestalt approach to coaching by the highly-respected Kinharvie Institute.
Since 2013 we have worked with Interfaith Scotland supporting engagement across Scotland’s faith and belief communities, and delivering sessions on religion and belief diversity. Jamie also works with the Birmingham-based antiracist organisation brap as an Associate Facilitator on antiracism and related themes. Working in antiracism has been Jamie’s most rewarding and most transformative challenge to date.
Our approach is rooted in the optimism that humans are capable of a vastly better world than the one we have built. Contact us today to how we can support you.