Change Makers

Growing Hope in Local Community Leaders

Change Makers

Growing Hope in Local Community Leaders

Do you see potential in people from your community to be the change for your community? Do you know emerging local leaders who could make a real difference if they only had better connections, focus and access to resources? Then, why not nominate them for a life changing opportunity to join the next cohort of Change Makers?

The 2024 Cohort nominations are now open. To nominate a ‘Pod’ of leaders or register your own interest please click here.

Change Makers equips a new generation of local community leaders. The focus is on growing each emerging leader’s capacity in the critical qualities of compassion, innovation and resilience, as well as building life-long connections, self-awareness and skills for change. Participants are nominated as a small group ‘Pods’ from within their local communities ‘Local Seedbeds’ and join with others around the country to shape their ideas for change in the areas of community building, community organising and community enterprise.

Change Makers programme is run over 4 months and includes a residential, away day sessions, coaching sessions, best practice site visits and a pitch of their own idea for change at the end of the programme to a resource panel and graduate.

Change Makers is accessible, designed so participants can be part of the programme even if they work or study full time. Participants come in pods together from their own community and focus their idea for change within their community. This means that their community benefits and not just the emerging leaders themselves.

Seven cohorts of Change Makers have already grown into fullness of life in remarkable ways, including the emerging leaders themselves as well as through launching their community-based initiatives (see video clips of recent participants here and latest news on our Facebook Page here).

We’ve also successfully piloted Change Makers Scotland, Change Makers Australia and Young Change Makers through the development of more ‘Local Seedbeds’.

Could your local leaders be next?

 

Change Makers especially benefits those who are:

Placed

Belong to an urban priority area and be willing to join the programme in a local ‘pod’ with others from that neighbourhood.

Emerging

Aged over 18 with high potential to make a difference.

Diverse

Not from mainstream, establishment backgrounds, paying attention to class, race and gender access and equity challenges.

Raw Talents

Have catalytic potential that traditional education systems will probably not bring out their best.

Upcoming ‘Change Makers’ Programmes

 

Change Maker programmes have been running for ten years with previous Change Makers having formed lifelong friendships and seen lasting transformation in their areas.

Could you come along with a group of like-minded friends to support and celebrate with you on this adventure?

Change Makers England 2024 – Key Dates
  • Orientation via zoom: Saturday 3 August 2024
  • Module A – Compassion: 6-7 September 2024 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module B – Innovation: 4-5 October 2024 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module C – Resilience: 1-3 November 2024 at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
  • Resource Panel and Graduation: 23 November 2024 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham

Subsidised Alumni residential (optional): St Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimage on 16-21 June 2025: Details here .

Cost is £250 (plus part scholarship).

The 2024 Cohort nominations are now open. To nominate a ‘Pod’ of leaders or register your own interest please click here.

 

Change Makers England 2025 – Key Dates
  • Orientation via zoom: Saturday 2 August 2025
  • Module A – Compassion: 5-6 September 2025 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module B – Innovation: 3-4 October 2025 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module C – Resilience: 31 October – 2 November 2025 at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
  • Resource Panel and Graduation: 22 November 2025 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham

Subsidised Alumni residential (optional): St Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimage in June 2026: Details here .

Cost is £250 (plus part scholarship).

Information About Cost

We don’t want finances to be a barrier to any potential Change Maker accessing our programmes. It generally costs around £1k per participant for this programme, but through sponsorships, grants, time gifting and donations each successful nominee will be granted a part scholarship. This means each participant or sponsoring organisation can invest £250 for access to the whole programme including a week-end residential, coaching sessions, site visits and a resource panel/graduation.  We especially ask nominators (and/or their organisation or church) to consider donating toward their nominees programme if their nominees are successful.

If you have any questions please contact ash.barker@seedbeds.org 

‘Change Makers’ Local Community Leadership Programmes:

Photo credit: Claire Carroll

For more information please contact Ash Barker at ash.barker@seedbeds.org