On 26 February 2026, the BTL-COP project partners took part in a Critical Encounters session hosted by Second Wave Youth Arts in London, gaining insight into a community-of-practice approach to building trust, dialogue, and leadership within communities.
The session showcased Second Wave’s community-led model for strengthening relationships between young people, communities, and police authorities. By creating space for open dialogue and shared learning, the approach aims to support more constructive engagement between institutions and the communities they serve.
During the event, participants engaged in interactive workshops led by Second Wave’s young leaders, who guided discussions based on real-life scenarios. The exercises challenged participants to reflect on perceptions, communication, and the dynamics that shape trust between communities and authorities.
For BTL-COP partners, the session provided valuable insights into how community-driven initiatives can contribute to trust-building in practice. The experience highlighted how community participation, dialogue, and leadership development can complement research and policy work aimed at strengthening relationships between communities and police.
Initiatives such as Critical Encounters demonstrate how community practice, research, and institutional collaboration can come together to support safer and more inclusive societies — a goal that sits at the heart of the BTL-COP project.
Photos © Sarah Ainslie and Second Wave Youth Arts.
