Work
Training & Facilitation
James helps surface and connect groups with the wisdom, power and capacity that is latent within them. He recognises that learning is not only intellectual but also relational, embodied and emotional. He supports groups to feel brave, take risks and learn through experience and doing, rather than rehearsing or performing previous thinking.
01
Movement building, activism and organising trainings
Example:
James co-created NEON’s flagship Movement Builders training with Nim Ralph and Ayeisha Thomas-Smith which focused on understanding how movements can win long term systemic change . He went on to develop their Transformative Organising training with Gauri Goyal, Andrea Gibbons and Emma Biermann, geared towards understanding how to create strategic, escalating campaigns that develop politically conscious leaders and community power. Both multi-day trainings drew on two decades of his insight into movement strategy, history and practice, gathered on the frontlines of struggles for social justice.
Testimonial:
“With his extensive experience in social movements, James has a deep understanding of the complexities of political spaces in the UK. He draws on his rich knowledge of facilitating diverse groups to create inclusive and engaging experiential learning environments that are designed to hold a range of emotions and experiences. James is thoughtful, warm, and funny – a great collaborator who enhances the teams he works with”.
Gauri Goyal – Head of Organising, NEON
01
Movement building, activism and organising trainings
02
Training for leaders and trainers
Example:
James designed and delivered a training program in direct and experiential learning for 30 trainers. He supported these participants to apply what they’d learnt delivering a three day leadership training, written by James and Nim Ralph, for hundreds of newly elected leaders from across the UK.
Testimonial:
“James, I honestly can’t tell you how much of an incredible experience this has been for me. You were meant to do what you do and I’m so grateful I took the leap, came out of my comfort zone and did this. It has been so inspiring and game-changing for me and what I do. So thank you you have been the best and I know you’ll say it was the group and it was but you led that and fostered some of the most beautiful conversations and thoughts I’ve ever witnessed.”
Emily Noble – Training Participant
02
Training for leaders and trainers
03
Facilitating leadership development
Example:
James facilitated monthly half-day sessions for senior staff and elected leaders of the National Union of Students. During these sessions, the goal was to build trust, reflect on and name their experience of the leadership culture, and lean into difficult conversations. The sessions were held in person and online.
Testimonial:
“We value our partnership with James because he consistently challenges us to think differently about our objectives and delivers truly transformational content. James consistently creates magic “
Sam Harris - Deputy Director, NUS Charity
“James is an experienced and very skilled facilitator who brings a lot of political and emotional awareness into his work. For me, his approach feels subtle but also really impactful at the same time - a difficult balance to strike and one that works well in politically sensitive environments.”
Kat Stark - Director, NUS UK
03
Facilitating leadership development
04
Facilitating international retreats, trainings and events
Example:
James facilitated the international gathering of Rethinking Economics, bringing leaders from around the world together to engage in cross-cultural community building and learning around social movement leadership.
Testimonial:
“ James has been integral to Rethinking Economics’s growth in recent years, turning our ideas about campaigning and leadership into the most engaging and transformational training we’ve taken part in. His guidance on strategy and culture is second to none.”
Laurence Jones-Williams – Director, Rethinking Economics International
04
Facilitating international retreats, trainings and events
Framing
James helps organisations and movements to build the trust, skills and insight needed to frame their issue in a way that shifts the dial among the public and builds support for your campaign.
01
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Movement-wide framing projects with multiple organisations
Example:
James facilitated a participatory, cross-movement framing project with fourteen organisations who were seeking to increase public salience of reforming the political system. Despite their wide-ranging priorities, James enabled the group to agree a coherent messaging guide for political system change, which has become a shared hymn sheet for the movement.
Testimonial:
“James Robertson is an exceptional framing strategist. He brings a sharp eye to framing research and can translate complex findings into effective, usable recommendations. He is a framing geek to the very core. You will be hard-pressed to find someone who gets it as deeply AND makes a collaboration as fun. I’ve worked with James on many framing projects over the years and it has always been an absolute joy.”
Bec Sanderson – Director of Research, FrameWorks Institute
01
Movement-wide framing projects with multiple organisations
02
X
Issue-specific framing projects with a single organisation
Example:
As an associate at PIRC, James was invited to work with Modern Slavery and Human Rights PEC to identify how to increase the British public’s understanding of modern slavery. Drawing on desk-based research, focus groups and guidance from those with lived experience of the issue, James developed a messaging guide, outlining how to frame modern slavery.
Testimonial:
“James has carried out this project and delivered excellent outputs. His framing expertise and flexibility make James a dream to work with.”
Jakub Sobik – Communications Director, Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre
02
Issue-specific framing projects with a single organisation
03
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Campaign communications
Example:
James doesn’t often work on party politics, but the prospect of supporting a young, Iranian, Muslim candidate in his bid to become the first person in UK history to unseat a Prime Minister was too tempting to turn down. James developed Ali Milani’s core campaign messaging, which was utilised to garner unprecedented press coverage, public donations and enough energetic and dedicated grass-roots volunteers to shut down Uxbridge tube station
Testimonial:
“The communications and messaging support James Robertson provided us proved to be the bedrock of the success of our campaign. His support transformed us from complete outsiders to a winning project.”
Ali Milani
03
Campaign communications
04
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Framing training
Example:
As an associate at NEON, James has led everything from day-long framing sessions on their flagship Movement Builders training with multiple groups, to short 90-minute Framing 101 sessions with staff from a single organisation.
Testimonial:
“James’ extensive experience in facilitation, coupled with experience and knowledge of messaging and framing, makes him an invaluable associate and great to work with”
Funmibi Oguniesi – Senior Messaging Organiser, NEON
04
Framing training
Strategy/ Structure/ Culture
James helps organisations to get clear on what they’re trying to achieve and how they build their structure and culture to achieve it. He does so in a way that is grounded in values, acknowledges power and privilege and recognises the role the organisation plays within the larger movement.
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Full-360 organisational development
Example:
James led Sortition Foundation through the process of developing their organisational strategy, story, structure and culture. He helped them identify their organisational values, strategic vision, purpose and goals; then was integral to restructuring the company into a workers’ co-op, distributing leadership and responsibility throughout the organisation, building a new pay model, and implementing a communications strategy based on frames and message testing.
“James Robertson is gold dust. He came to Sortition, transformed our organisational structure and revolutionised our strategy. He made us the organisation we are today”
Brett Henig – Founder and Director, Sortition Foundation
01
Full-360 organisational development
02
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Movement conscious strategy
Example:
James supported the Electoral Reform Society to develop their strategic plan 2021-24 based on an appreciation of their core contribution to the wider movement for democratic renewal, analysis of the political weather and the aspirations of the board, staff and members.
Testimonial:
“James helped design and run the process, guiding us in deciding our strategic direction. It was probably our most impactful period for many years. James understands strategy (particularly in a political environment) as well as anyone I have ever worked with and is also one of the best facilitators in the business.”
Willie Sulivan - Senior Director - Electoral Reform Society