Humansolutions Bulletin - September 12th 2024

There is no room for racism in a civilised society. The recent surge of interest in anti-racism is very much to be welcomed, but we have to guard against oversimplifying some complex and sensitive issues. This book, from the author of Anti-discriminatory Practice and Promoting Equality, provides an important foundation of learning that will be helpful for anyone committed to a genuinely anti-racist approach to practice. Available from https://neilthompson.info/shop/ or Amazon

Saying please and thank you is a basic part of what we are taught as children. But saying thank you is more than just good manners. It is a way of showing appreciation and of cementing cooperative working relations. While it is certainly not uncommon for people to say thank you to one another in the appropriate circumstances, there are also very many occasions when it is not said and when it could have been very helpful to do so. There are also many times when it is said in a curt or routine way that does not really convey appreciation – it comes across as just a social ritual, rather than a meaningful (and effective) communication. Try two things…

Saying 'thank you' can be powerful — sometimes unexpectedly so. Gratitude can foster greater happiness, which can be particularly impactful in romantic contexts, offering what one study referred to as "a booster shot" for relationships. Now a new study on gratitude looks at the power of a 'thank you' in a family context. Writing in The Journal of Positive Psychology, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign team explores gratitude between both parents and children, finding that gratitude doesn't just strengthen relationships between couples, but other family ties, too. Click here to read more

We have long been calling for early support hubs to be established in every local area so young people can access early mental health support and advice in their community. After years of campaigning, we are proud to see a commitment to early support hubs in the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat manifestos. The political parties have listened to our calls to fund the hubs. We would like to thank the thousands of young people and our colleagues from across the sector who added their voices to our campaign. This is a fantastic win for the Fund the Hubs campaign. But the truth is that a manifesto commitment is only the first step. Click here to read more

Give credit, take responsibility Get aligned on timeframes Insist on a spec, write one, improve it Agree on a budget Keep a calendar Don’t hold a grudge Click here to read more  

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