Who are we?
NVC Matters UK is a not-for-profit community interest company, established during 2020, by its founding members - Penny Spawforth, Therese Bentley and Tracy Seed; they were supported to set up and learn the power-distributed system of Holacracy by Tom Hitchman.
We are growing awareness in the UK of Nonviolent Communication, originated by Dr. Marshall B Rosenberg. This website, which is a part of NVC Matters, is dedicated to connecting those who want to learn NVC with those who want to teach and share it.
We are the behind the scenes team...
Penny Spawforth
Penny is a founder member and one of our directors. She is circle lead for the website circle and co-leads the outward-facing comms circle as well as having multiple other roles. She loves gardening, community food growing, going for walks in nature and swimming in the sea!
Therese Bentley
Therese is a founder member and our treasurer. Part-time retirement enables her to have more time to support her family, especially her young grandchildren who bring laughter and joy.
Tom Hitchman
Tom provides Holacracy support and leads the People Care circle. He has contributed greatly to getting the CIC fit for growth. His other passion is playing Petanque!
Rik Midgley
Rik is our membership communicator. He is passionate about the role of somatic awareness in sustainable social change, Vipassana Meditation and in exploring wilderness. He is also a potter - many NVCers have his mugs!
Kirstin Heidler
Kirstin helps us with fundraising and secretarial responsibilities. She is fascinated by interpersonal neurobiology and spiritualities of the world. She also loves knitting.
Barney Phillips
Barney is part of the People Care Circle and is responsible for Data Protection. He enjoys fixing and making things, and messing around in boats.
Barry Jones
Barry is our newest director and is helping organise this year's annual gathering. He enjoys practicing living mindfully and loves experiencing freedom through swimming and surfing. He starts most days walking his dogs and when he is not drinking Yorkshire tea he can be found on a 5 Rhythms dance floor!
Cathy Sommer
Cathy is helping us with our online shop and spreading the word about our feelings and needs cards. She is passionate about travelling, reading and everything mind-body health related
Mark Britton
Mark is our Certification Candidate Voice; he encourages synergistic connections between aspiring trainers and NVC Matters. He is also one of our Holacracy secretaries. Lover of granite and ocean he is perfectly placed in his adopted home county of Cornwall.
Andrea Vettorino
Andrea is part of the NVC-UK website circle, as secretary and metrics evaluator. He loves forests and beaches, traditional art, qigong and meditation, and communities where to experience giving from the heart.
Jess Woolrich
Jess is in our People Care circle. She supports us with our volunteer processes and creating digital content relating to our volunteers. She enjoys days by the beach, foraging herbs, cat cuddles and drinking tea, preferably always with a book in hand!
Gülçin Menekşe
Gülçin helps organise our annual gathering, as part of her commitment to deepening her experience with NVC. She is passionate about fostering understanding and connection. In her free time she enjoys travelling, playing tennis, practicing yoga and exploring various forms of art.
Tamara Hoggarth
Tamara publishes our newsletter and welcomes new people to our team as a part of her enthusiasm to support a movement that creates more space for authentic connection. She loves being in the forest, preferably barefoot, has an interest in eastern medicine and poetry and loves to paint, usually with her Lab by her side.
What's different about the way we work?
Using NVC, along with an innovative, agile and non-hierarchical system known as Holacracy, we separate out "roles from souls". This means that, although we all take on multiple roles within circles in the organisation, we can change roles - flexibly and easily. On top of this, power is distributed across all the roles - so there are no managers or bosses!
Vision and Mission
We envisage a world in which people think relationally in what they say and do. Universal needs matter and life serving systems support us all too thrive.
Our mission is enabling a vibrant network of interconnected initiatives sharing the consciousness and skills of Nonviolent Communication as originated by Dr Marshall Rosenberg
- We believe that how we collaborate matters
- We communicate compassionately and honestly.
- We embrace and respect difference
- We are united in our humanity
- We learn and grow from conflicts that arise.
Interested in joining our team?
If you are intrigued, have a few hours to spare a week, and want to contribute to the NVC movement in the UK, you can view volunteering information here and contact us to discuss