The danger of the narratives we use to silence: Grenfell and the rebel residents

On the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower Fire, the Bennett Institute for Public Policy released a report ‘Policy Lessons from Catastrophic Events’. The report captures the output of a workshop held in February 2020, which focused on why we find it difficult to learn from catastrophic events.

JMJ Master Consultant Gill Kernick, shares her insights about the narratives used to silence individuals meaning critical information is not used in making key decisions.

Published by the Cambridge Bennett Institute for Public Policy, who are committed to rethinking public policy in an era of turbulence and growing inequality.

In February, Gill co-hosted a workshop with the Bennett Institute focussed on why we fail to learn from catastrophic events and bring around change. The workshop bought together a range of different experts in a safe space. A report released on the third anniversary of Grenfell Tower Fire, captures the output of the workshop called ‘Policy Lessons from Catastrophic events’. Narratives used to silence individuals was one of the barriers identified for the inability to learn from catastrophic events.

Gill lived on the 21st Floor of Grenfell Tower from 2011 to 2014 and on the 14 June 2017, watched it burn. Seven of her former neighbours died. The fire killed 54 adults and 18 children.

Gill promised to do what it takes to ensure we learn from the disaster and speaks and writes about how we can prevent catastrophic events.

At JMJ we work with organisations to tap the tacit and distributed knowledge and intelligence of the entire workforce to solve complex challenges such as safety, quality and sustainability.

Narratives we use to silence .Read and download a copy of the ‘Policy Lessons from Catastrophic Events’ report .

Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Cambridge University

The Bennett Institute for Public Policy launched in April 2018. The institute’s goal is “to become a world-leader in achieving successful and sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing problems of our time”. The Institute conducts high-level academic and policy research. Their research connects the world leading work in technology and science at Cambridge with the economic and political dimensions of policy making. Committed to outstanding teaching, policy engagement, and to devising sustainable and long-lasting solutions.

Learn more about JMJ’s approach to cultural transformation.