Resources

Everything you need to run a conversation.

All materials are released under CC0—no permission needed, no attribution required. Download, adapt, and use freely. Better yet, contribute improvements back on GitHub.

Core Materials

Start here

These three documents are what you need for your first session. Everything else builds on them.

Run Sheet · PDF + Markdown

Facilitator Run Sheet

The complete 90-minute session guide. Time-blocked with exact facilitator language, tips for common situations, and phase-by-phase goals. Pilot 1.0.

↓ Download PDF View on GitHub →
Reference Card · 1 Page

Conversation Agreement

The one-page ground rules document handed out to participants at the start of every session. Print one copy per person plus two extras.

Coming soon
Guide · Markdown

Facilitator Troubleshooting Guide

What to do when things don't go to plan. Someone dominates the conversation. Someone gets upset. Two people start debating. Practical responses for real situations.

View on GitHub →
Training

Becoming a citizen facilitator

Facilitation is a skill, but it's a learnable one. You don't need professional training—you need practice, the right framework, and good materials to guide you.

Self-paced · Reading

Facilitator Mindset

Understanding your role: you're here to guide the conversation, not contribute to it. Active listening, genuine curiosity, and patience are your most important tools. Covered in the run sheet.

In the Run Sheet ↓
Training Session · Coming Soon

Citizen Facilitator Workshop

A half-day training for new facilitators covering the methodology, practice scenarios, and common challenges. Being developed now. Join the directory to be notified.

Join to be notified
Video · Coming Soon

Facilitation Walkthrough

A recorded walkthrough of the full 90-minute session format. Useful both for training and for refreshing your memory before a session.

Coming soon
Topic Guides

Conversation topic packs

The run sheet uses [TOPIC] placeholders. Topic packs fill those in with context, suggested framing, and topic-specific facilitation notes. The first pack covers political polarisation itself. More to come.

Topic Pack · In Development

Political Polarisation

Why do we feel so divided? What does the other side actually believe? A conversation about the divisions themselves—good for a first session.

Coming soon
Topic Pack · Planned

Housing & Cost of Living

Renters and owners. Developers and residents. Different life stages with vastly different stakes. A topic with genuine common ground waiting to be found.

Planned
Topic Pack · Planned

Climate & Energy

Across regions, industries, and generations. Strong feelings on all sides. One of the most important conversations communities need to have.

Planned

Want to develop a topic pack?

Topic packs are ideal contributions for researchers, community organisations, and experienced facilitators. Everything is in Markdown and lives on GitHub.

Contribute on GitHub →
Open Source

All of this lives on GitHub.

The authoritative versions of every resource are in the DCAF repository. GitHub is where improvements happen—if you've run a session and found a better way to handle something, that knowledge belongs in the run sheet, not just in your head.