We embarked upon this project of commissioning and editing this special themed issue of e-O&P with a shared assumption that trust is an essential feature of hopeful personal and organisational relationships. Yet as soon as we started to think self-consciously about trust, it seemed beyond our comprehension. Questions such as: What is trust? How can it be measured? What are its ‘parts’? How can we improve the quality of trust? all seemed inadequate. Yet, daily, we form trusting relationships, we offer something, we show vulnerability to, and see it in, others. There is clearly a response and context through which trust is either mediated or undermined. Intuitively, we knew that trust is important for us and for those around us. There is fear of being let down, yet a hope that relationships might develop in mutually beneficial ways. And we can envisage that such hopes and fears are mirrored in those with whom we interact. We sense powerfully that – whatever it is - trust is important. If so, can we find helpful ways of talking about and embodying trust? We embarked upon this writing project to see whether – with the contributions of others – we could find some answers.