The story so far...
We wrote The Talking Revolution in 2018 out of frustration at the many domestic, professional and societal problems that are caused by people failing to engage with each other positively – or at all.
It outlines how we can talk and listen to each other more effectively using an approach called creative conversation. We are convinced that this is an effective way to help overcome what divides us and, together, tackle our shared challenges.
Soon after publication we were invited to talk about the book on BBC Radio's Word of Mouth and since then have been working with organisations large and small – increasingly online – to put our ideas into practice.
But always in our hearts has been our desire to help create change by making creative conversation accessible to everyone, which is why we've set up The Centre for Creative Conversation. And why we're here now, reaching out to you.
Will you join us?
Eddy Canfor-Dumas
Co-Founder
Eddy is a writer and an adviser in conflict management. He has supported in Parliament the development of conflict prevention policy (2006-16); worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat, OSCE, the British Army and the Swedish Armed Forces; been a visiting lecturer at the UK Defence Academy and a member of the Chief of Defence Staff’s Strategy Forum; and co-led the international civil-military initiative ‘Understand to Prevent’, which produced practical guidance on the military contribution to the prevention of violent conflict.
Eddy has also written best-selling books and award-winning TV dramas and is a Samaritans listening volunteer.
Peter Osborn
Co-Founder
Peter teaches the skills of conversation in schools, businesses, local authorities, charities and social enterprises. He has produced books, videos, workshops and professional development programmes for British Telecom, the Communication Trust, The Stephen Lawrence Trust, The UK Youth Parliament, Young Scot, Essex County Council and many other organisations.
Peter is also a visiting lecturer at The Dept. of Applied Social Science Community Development and Youth Work at Goldsmiths, University of London and a Trustee / Facilitator for the bereavement charity The Loss Foundation.
We are working with ECCH's senior managers to embed creative conversation in their daily interactions.
We’re working with Turner Free School in Folkestone to embed creative conversation in daily interactions between managers, teachers, parents and students.
We support the 'Conversations New York' initiative and recently delivered a webinar for the Columbia University Seminar on Innovation: "In our twenty years of conducting these Seminars, yours was one of the three most enjoyed and valued."
Peter and Eddy delivered a half-day workshop on the 7 Habits as part of The Marble Group's 2024 kick-off.
Peter and Eddy delivered a half-day workshop on creative conversation to senior managers at Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
We provide confidential help to senior leadership teams and executives in conflict: "What a way we have come! A lot can change in 12 months and I am very grateful for the interventions you supported us to make to achieve all of that."
We're working with Home-Start HOST to embed creative conversation in daily interactions between managers, volunteers and the families they support.
We co-designed a whole-organisation programme for Chime Audiology, which included coaching the senior leadership team and training two in-house trainers.
We co-designed a whole-organisation programme for Catalyst Choices, which included coaching the senior leadership team and training four in-house trainers.
Eddy delivered a half-day workshop on creative conversation to the Professional Standards Department of Gloucestershire Constabulary.
We ran 24 half-day workshops on creative conversation for Coop’s annual Leadfest Programme.
Peter runs creative conversation workshops for Social Studies students at Goldsmiths College, University of London.