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“It's going to be very hard to disagree well with someone if you don't recognize their humanity, or if you see them as just an inconvenience to you.”
We will be publishing our groundbreaking white paper in June 2025 entitled
From harm to healing: rebuilding trust in Britain's publicly funded institutions.
This research examines pathways to transforming institutional behaviours that impede access to justice, with a focus on how restorative approaches can address deep-rooted institutional harm. We would be pleased to share advance insights from this work if helpful.
We aim to facilitate deep, reflective conversations that challenge institutional behaviours, particularly those that have led to harm and mistrust in marginalised communities.
Our approach is centred on guiding organisations to confront the core forces of institutionalism and groupthink that shape their operations and often inadvertently perpetuate harm.
Institutionalism refers to the established patterns of behaviour, policies, and practices within organisations that can unintentionally create or exacerbate inequalities.
Groupthink, on the other hand, is a psychological phenomenon in which the desire for harmony or conformity within a group results in poor decision-making and the suppression of dissenting voices, ultimately leading to a failure to address systemic problems. Our work focuses on helping institutions recognise how these dynamics influence their actions, often with unintended consequences for the communities they serve.
The WayFinders Group’s approach is not about placing blame but about fostering self-reflection and accountability. We work with organisations to help them recognise that they may be inadvertently contributing to harm, even if this is not immediately apparent.
By guiding public bodies to understand these dynamics, we help them move beyond entrenched patterns of behaviour and create more inclusive, transparent, and just policies and practices.
Drawing inspiration from models such as the Independent Commission for Reconciliation in Northern Ireland, we create spaces where both parties—the individuals harmed and the institutions responsible—can come together to foster empathy, healing, and mutual understanding.
This process integrates trauma-informed practices, offering a path forward for both individuals and institutions to heal, grow, and move towards more equitable and just practices.
The WayFinders Group offers a wide range of services designed to help public bodies reflect on and improve their practices while fostering stronger relationships with the communities they serve.
An essential part of our work is addressing power imbalances, particularly in areas such as policing, healthcare, and education. For example, we explore the disproportionate focus on “public space crimes” rather than crimes in wealthier or private spaces, such as financial institutions, and how this contributes to inequality in society.
By raising awareness of these issues, we encourage organisations to rethink their strategies and policies. This is not framed as an attack on institutions, but rather as an opportunity for self-reflection and improvement.
Once organisations understand these broader systemic issues, The WayFinders Group introduces restorative approaches.
The WayFinders Group empowers institutions to recognise their blind spots, reflect on their practices, and develop new strategies that lead to more inclusive, equitable, and just outcomes for all.
Ultimately, we aim to foster trust, healing, and accountability in public institutions, contributing to a society where everyone can thrive.
Partners
