Civic Futures
Transformative social change has always started with civil society
Civic Futures is a practical collective learning journey, focused on:
- peer connection
- exploration and inquiry
- systems thinking
- collaboration
In a world which often risks being captured by the past, now more than ever we need a civic society which can be both fiercely independent, and also truly interdependent with all those seeking to build a shared future.
Now in its fourth year, the Civic Futures programme is designed to bring together people who are active across London, to explore the skills, tools, methodologies, and relationships that are needed to build better futures.
It starts by asking: how can we build shared wisdom in making the transition to a better future?
We aim to bring together some of the amazing people active across London to learn from and support each other in building that future.
Civic Futures is now looking to convene our fourth group of up to 30 people from across London’s civil society, local government and activist spaces to facilitate a collective learning journey.
How to apply
Applications are open until midday on Monday 29 January 2024. Go to the Civic Futures Fellowship 2024-25 application form.
Programme focus
Running from March 2024 to January 2025, the programme will focus on:
- peer connection
- exploration and inquiry
- systems thinking, and collaboration.
Find full details about the programme in the 2024-25 Information Pack.
Partnerships
In partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA), Civic Futures is a growing Fellowship programme facilitated by:
More information
You can find out more about previous Civic Futures programmes on our case study microsite and in the list of previous fellows below.
The programme officially began in 2020, by convening a group of curious and motivated change-makers across the capital to collectively explore, reflect on, and envision a new future for social change in London.
Since then, we have convened two further cohorts to embark on this collective journey - a vibrant mixture of activists, artists, funders, curators, educators, organisers, connectors, technologists, carers, archivists, and people playing combined and hybrid roles, right across those categories, and London's civil society. After 3 years, the Civic Futures programme has:
- grown into a Fellowship Network of almost 100 people working across various sectors, systems and spaces within London
- incubated a variety of experimental and collaborative project ideas, addressing issues including from mental health, community journalism, intergenerational activism, and creative stewardship
- distributed almost £100k to Fellows in order to support the development of these experimental projects.
- Angie Farrance, Greater London Authority
- Cat Millar, Pecan Women's Service
- Diana Chowdhury, Mental Health advocate
- Emily Collins-Ellis, I.G Advisors
- Faheem Khan, Future Leaders UK
- Floree Zama-Neagra, National Park City Foundation
- Geraud de Ville de Goyet, Barking and Dagenham Giving
- Gus Alston, Stonegrove Community Trust
- Hannan Ali, City Bridge Trust
- Hilary Powell, Artist
- John Chan, Ghost and John,, Hidden Keileon CIC
- Kaltun Abdillahi, Samafal Families Association Ltd
- Katy Griffith, London Borough of Southwark
- Laura Vicinanza, Inclusion London
- Leslie Barson, Granville Community Kitchen
- Marc Thompson, The Love Tank CIC
- Natt Day, UCL Partners
- Nishma Jethwa, The Rights Collective
- Peter Baffoe, South London Mission
- Rebecca Towers, London Borough of Southwark
- Sarena Kamala Shetty, Participatory City Foundation
- Sonja Baralic, London Borough of Lambeth
- Sripriya Arai Sudhakar, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Syed Jahid Ahmed, London Borough of Newham
- Tamara Kahn, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- Troy Norbert, Queen's Crescent Community Association & Gospel Oak Action Link
- Vanessa Castro, The Advocacy Academy
- Viveca Cameron, CraftA
- Will Cooper, London Borough of Barnet
- Xia Lin, Toynbee Hall
The second cohort is an exciting mix of both Civil Society and Local Government Fellows.
Download information on the Fellows.
Civil Society Fellows
- Afsana Salik, Citizens UK
- Ajay Pabial, Art Clubbers CIC
- Aleksandra Chlebos, Kensal Green Mutual Aid
- Angela Singhate, Tell It Parents Network
- Chelsea McDonagh, Traveller Movement
- David Floyd, Social Spider CIC
- David McEwen, Studio Weave
- Deborah Hayman-Nkhoma, Community Southwark
- Jabez Lam, Hackney Chinese Community Services
- Joon Lynn Goh, Migrants in Culture & Asia Art Activism
- Laurie Belgrave, The Chateau
- Mike Wilson, Pembroke House
- Nii Anum, Paniym City Church
- Sabeha Miah, St Hilda’s East Community Centre
- Sue Agyakwa, Bromley by Bow Centre
Local Government Fellows
- Alison May, Lambeth Council
- Chloe Harvey, Southwark Council
- Dilwara Khatun, Redbridge Council
- Grace Williams, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC)
- Jane Brueseke, Waltham Forest Council
- Liam Weeks, Greater London Authority
- Mohammed Mukit, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
- Noel Hatch, Camden Council
- Sara Conway, Barnet Council
- Shadi Brazell, Greater London Authority
- Shahaveer (Shubo) Hussain, Camden Council
- Shamiso Oneka, London Borough of Haringey
- Tahira Bakhtiari, Harrow Council
- Tess Lanning, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
- Vanessa Gabriel-Robinson, Greater London Authority
The first cohort was a mixture of activists, artists, funders, curators, educators, organisers, connectors, technologists, carers, archivists, and people playing combined and hybrid roles right across London's civil society.
- Bushra Ahmed, West Croydon Voice
- Christina Sealy, TalentRich
- Edward Saperia, Newspeak House
- Eli Manderson-Evans, Ten Years' Time
- Ellie Hale, Centre for Acceleration of Social Technology (CAST)
- Fani Arampatzidou, East End Women's Museum
- Farah Mohammoud, YouPress
- Jim Minton, Toynbee Hall
- Joyce Fraser, Black Heroe's Foundation
- Karen Chillman, Croydon CVS
- Krissie Nicolson, East End Trades Guild
- Laura Kerry & Morag McGuire, Artillery
- Leroy Simpson, Community Liaison
- Mama D Ujuaje, Community Centered Knowledge
- Marcela Benedetti, Latin-American Women Rights Service (LAWRS)
- Mei Lim, Reach Children's Hub
- Melanie Hudson, Howbury Friends
- Nahimul Islam, Wapping Youth FC
- Natasha Friend, Camden Giving
- Ned Glasier, Company Three
- Nicholas Okwulu, Pempeople
- Nile Bridgeman, AfterParti
- Poulomi Desai, Usurp Arts
- Tobi Kyeremateng, Black Ticket Project
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