Change Makers

Growing Hope in Local Community Leaders

Change Makers

Growing Hope in Local Community Leaders

Do you love to invest in the potential of local people in your community and see that as critical to growing community life and transformation? 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 2025 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 emerging local community leaders. We seek to add value and capacity to community development practitioners, youth workers, church leaders with 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. However small or big their ideas, we believe that everyone, working together with others, can be and make positive change.

The core 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. We also have accredited, youth and discipleship Change maker programs. We can bespoke any of the programmes to the needs of a particular community or partner so talk to us!

Change Makers is accessible, recognises that ‘raw potential’ means supporting those who feel bringing about community change might be beyond them, and 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.

Several cohorts of Change Makers since 2017 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). 

 “Just wanted to say what a massive difference Change Makers has made to our group, and to me and Owen and to Northfield.
It is completely top quality training from experts in your/their fields. The kind of training we’d never be able to access usually.
All this housed in a such safe and loving atmosphere created by your genuine love, acceptance, compassion and belief.
It is an intoxicating cocktail! With such wise foundations and wisdom hard won through personal experience.
Looking forward to see where this adventure will take us next.” Anna O’Brien, Cohort 8 

 Could your local leaders be next?

Contact: Tim Evans tim.evans@seedbeds.org, Ash Barker ash.barker@seedbeds.org or Sharon Fraser sharon.fraser@seedbeds.org 

 

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 West Midlands 2025 – Key Dates
  • Orientation : 10am-2pm on Saturday 26 July 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: 6 December 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).

 

NCFE Certificate Level 3: Sustainable Community Leadership, West Midlands 2025 – Key Dates

A national qualification helping to build confidence and access further vocational pathways and training for emerging local leaders who have trouble accessing the regular Change Makers programme (above) because they’re not available at weekends eg care-givers/parents. Funded by Westhill Endowment. 

  • Orientation – 9:30am-2:30pm, Wednesday 1 October 2025 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham
  • Week Intensive – Compassionate Leadership/Self-awareness/Community Innovation/Community Project/Building Resilience/Coaching: 9:30am-2:30pm, Monday 13 – Friday 17 October 2025 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham and Cuthbert’s Cave, The Greenhouse at Barnes Close.
  • Resource Panel and Graduation: – 9:30am-2:30pm, Wednesday 22 October 2025 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham

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

Cost is £250 (plus part scholarship).

 

The 2025 Cohort nominations are now open. To nominate a ‘Pod’ of leaders or register your own interest please click here.

 

 Change Makers West Midlands 2026 – Key Dates

  • Orientation : 10am-2pm on Saturday 1 August 2026
  • Module A – Compassion: 4-5 September 2026 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module B – Innovation: 2-3 October 2026 at Newbigin House, Winson Green
  • Module C – Resilience: 30 October – 1 November 2026 at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne
  • Resource Panel and Graduation: 21 November 2026 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham

Subsidised Alumni residential (optional): St Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimage in May 2027: Details here .

Cost is £250 (plus part scholarship).

NCFE Certificate Level 3: Sustainable Community Leadership, West Midlands 2026 – Key Dates

A national qualification helping to build confidence and access further vocational pathways and training for emerging local leaders who have trouble accessing the regular Change Makers programme (above) because they’re not available at weekends eg care-givers/parents.

  • Orientation – 9:30am-2:30pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham
  • Week Intensive – Compassionate Leadership/Self-awareness/Community Innovation/Community Project/Building Resilience/Coaching: 9:30am-2:30pm, Monday 12 – Friday 16 October 2026 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham and Cuthbert’s Cave, The Greenhouse at Barnes Close.
  • Resource Panel and Graduation: – 9:30am-2:30pm, Wednesday 21 October 2026 at Lodge Road Community Church, Winson Green, Birmingham

Subsidised Alumni residential (optional): St Cuthbert’s Way pilgrimage in May 2027: 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 Tim Evans at tim.evans@seedbeds.org