The first Urban Change Makers residential was themed ‘Compassion’ and held over the week-end of September 8-10, 2017. With teams from London and Birmingham there was a tangible sense that our dreams for investing in emerging leaders and incubating urban change was coming true. Held at a retreat centre in the beautiful village of Warslow, the first night was all about connecting and sharing hopes and fears. Saturday focussed on the need for self awareness, taking our own story seriously, resisting temptations and then looking at strengths and gifts through the Strength Finders process. Sunday focussed on equipping with practical workshop sessions from Ash Barker and Tim Evans around community building, community enterprise and community organising. The week-end finished by a sharing a ‘Peace Meal’ together over lunch.
It wasn’t all engagement though. The cohort visited Buxton on Saturday afternoon and enjoyed sharing community meals and travel together.
Next month this first Urban Change Makers cohort visit Luton and London to see some best some practices and see first hand stories of change . Then there are individual coaching sessions in November before the second week-end residential in December themed ‘Innovation‘. The new year will see another site visit, more individual coaching and the final week-end residential ‘Resilience’ before graduation/Dragon’s Den in April.
Change Makers 