Talking Circles Safe spaces for honest dialogue.
Community-led, facilitator-held spaces for South Asian communities to come together, listen deeply and share experiences around identity, wellbeing, belonging and heritage. No pressure. No judgement.
Spaces for expressing, not fixing.
Talking Circles are intentional community spaces where people come together to listen deeply and share experiences, if and when they wish. They are not therapy, not support groups, and not debates. There is no expectation to speak. Attending to listen is equally welcome.
Each circle is guided by trained facilitators and held with care, confidentiality and trust. The focus is on shared reflection rather than problem-solving, creating an environment that feels respectful, calm and genuinely held.
A 2.5-hour structured session.
Each session follows a clear, gentle structure of up to 2.5 hours. Welcoming, grounding, conversation, reflection and close. Nothing is rushed. Silence is welcomed throughout.
10 circles. 10 conversations.
A series of ten facilitated sessions exploring themes at the heart of South Asian community life, free and open to all. The first six circles were led by the Trust. The final four, all in October 2026, are led by newly trained community facilitators, so the circles carry on long after the series ends.
Community led, built to last
Every facilitator has completed the Trust's facilitator training, with Safeguarding Adults Level 3 for those leading circles. Trained facilitators go on to hold their own circles in their communities, supported by the Trust.
Facilitator resources
- Talking Circles Facilitator Pack
- Facilitator training programme: 8 modules
- Support resources card and participant feedback form
Developed by the South Asian Heritage Trust. The training programme and cards are available to trained facilitators on request.
Download the Facilitator Pack (PDF)
Built on care and trust.
Every Talking Circle is designed around the safety and comfort of its participants. These are the principles that guide how every session is held.
What was expected as a heavy session left them feeling positively lighter.
Join a circle or bring one to your community.
The pilot series is based in Manchester. We are exploring how to extend Listening Circles to other regions and communities across the UK. If you are interested in attending, hosting or partnering on this programme, we would love to hear from you.
