Democratising Civil Society
Democratising Civil Society seeks to understand the democratic health of civil society itself, the impact this has on democracy as a whole, and what it would take to change both.
It takes a two pronged approach:
- examining the behaviour and influence of policy and campaign organisations, and the philanthropic institutions that fund them
- supporting the growth of place-based, member-owned institutions as an alternative.
My background
Over the past two decades, I have worked across policy, campaigning and philanthropy. Throughout, I have championed a simple principle: the people most affected by decisions should have a role in shaping them. My focus has been on opening up the time, space and power for communities to influence the policies and campaigns developed in their name.
Throughout that time, I have designed, developed and funded projects that have consistently highlighted a gap between the issues communities affected by injustice see as most important and those most commonly prioritised within the professional policy sector. Likewise through my time working in philanthropy I have seen the bias towards particular pathways to change that unconsciously exclude marginalised and diverse voices resulting in an homogenous civil society and homogenous approaches to change.
My current roles include:
- Leading a strand of work focused on diversifying the clean air sector and amplifying the voices of those most affected by air pollution at Impact on Urban Health. Enabling communities affected by racism and poverty to build power and influence environmental change.
- Associate Director at economic development cooperative Stir to Action, strategically advising on philanthropy and community empowerment.
- Trustee advising on strategy and inclusive governance at People’s Economy, working with communities facing economic injustice to develop democratic, equitable, and sustainable economic systems.
- Trustee at Love Leeds Parks, contributing strategic oversight and advising on community participation.
Previous roles include:
- Spearheading and embedding participatory approaches at Joseph Rowntree Foundation, leading on co-design of social policy and funding grassroots led organisations.
- At Poverty Alliance, creating mechanisms for people directly affected by poverty, civil society professionals to shape Scottish Government social policy.
- Influencing European Commission social policy processes at ATD Fourth World to encourage EU Member states to work more closely with civil society, including people directly affected by poverty