CREATING LARGE GROUP DIALOGUE in ORGANISATIONS and SOCIETY

A Study Programme of Connected Residential and Zoom Workshops
Approved as an IGA (London) Short Course and in association with the Group Analytic Society International

The day will come when whole communities and nations will deal with their affairs in this way.

SH Foulkes, founder of Group Analysis (1975)

WELCOME
Since January 2019 this 'slow open' series of Median Group workshops has been offered for those wishing ongoing learning and support for working in situations that involve larger groups of people. They could be teachers, managers, consultants, clergy or anybody interested in understanding how the world around them has influenced who they are and their capacity to speak their mind in social settings.

We meet five times a year. For the first session of the year, we join together online. We then meet four times through the year using innovative hybrid technology in-person at Roffey Park Institute. This means we offer concurrent online attendance so that participants are able to join us from around the world. 

Although referred to as the Large Group Course, it is not taught through lectures. Instead, it is a developing community of practice that becomes a place of support for everyone wishing to initiate and work through a 'project' of their choice, using the theoretical input and experience of the group to inform their action. 

We are from many backgrounds and countries, so the work is fascinating, deep, encouraging and difficult, as we bump up against the many different assumptions each of us brings.

Based on the work of Patrick de Maré, we have learnt that real dialogue in a Large Group can release enormous potential for individual and collective creativity. The learning occurs through the experience of working together in the Median Group. Practice and theory are woven together in a rich, and yes, confusing situation.

TIMES and DATES [UK Times]

2026: 30 January-1 February [ONLINE], 17-19 April, 29-31 May [Mini CONFERENCE] 3-5 July, 2-4 October.

We start on Friday afternoon at about 16.30 with a cup of tea and finish with a cup of tea on Sunday at 16.00 UK time. These times get adjusted slightly from time to time to suit flight and train departures.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Write to Teresa von Sommaruga Howard on Teresa@JustDialogue.com

JOINING
If you are interested do come and join us. The workshops operate as a slow open group-analytic group so you are welcome to join us at any time. We meet over a long weekend five times a year. See dates and times below and Programme under 'Structure'.

Anyone from any background wishing to encourage open and inclusive dialogue in decision-making, peace-making, consultation processes, bridging racial, cultural and religious divides, or tackling local or global challenges.

For example, if you are working in a school or higher education, local government, prison or probation service, social work or trade union, with youth and community development, as a management consultant, in a therapeutic community, or struggling to survive in the NHS, or as clergy, a politician or civil servant, you can expect these workshops to give you quite new perspectives.
FEES

In some cases, fees can be adjusted to suit each person’s economic situation. 

All meals, accommodation, coffee, tea, fruit and cookies etc are included in the venue and accommodation package for the duration of the workshops. Alcoholic drinks are at your cost and will need to be settled with the venue on departure.

Fees for Hybrid Online attendance: £210 per weekend

Fees for ‘Residential’ when paid by weekend: £570 for single room, £520 each for shared room [Please specify twin or double bed)

Special Fee for Mini Conference: £500.00 for single room, £450 each for shared room [Please specify twin or double bed)

Fees for Residential attendance for 3 residential weekends paid in advance: £1560.00, equivalent to £520 per weekend, £1386 each for shared room equivalent to £465 per weekend [Please specify twin or double bed)

Please note that late residential cancellation of your participation will incur fees as below:

Over 28 days before the event 25%
Between and including 28 and 15 days before the event 50%
Between and including 14 and 8 days before the event 75%
7 days or less before the event 100%

The cost for an extra night if needed is £175.00 plus VAT at 20% £210.