The New Economy Programme – a year of practical one-day workshops and three-day residentials – launched in October 2018 after a crowdfunding campaign to train a 1000 people in Bristol, Oxford, London, Dorset.
Our 2019-2020 programme relaunched in Plymouth, Bradford, Newcastle, Bristol, London, and Dorset from October 2019 to July 2020. Following the COVID-19 pandemic the New Economy Programme moved online.
We also work with regional and national funding partners to offer sponsored places for those working in different sectors, such as co-operatives, digital technology, heritage, local development, and food & farming.
The BeyondHere Fellowship is a small grants programme to fund individuals to undertake place-based research that connects people and places with new economic models and approaches across the UK.
Working in partnership with different funders and organisations, we’re offering fellowship grants that focuses on current challenges and opportunities, such as climate change, economic democracy, placemaking, mental health and wellbeing, and heritage. Our first partnership was with Power to Change to explore ‘wellbeing in community leadership’.
We also launched a six-week webinar programme, connecting UK communities and beyond with inspiring international projects in other parts of the world.
Stir to Action has partnered with Wessex Community Assets to develop the Wessex Community Housing Hub. The Hub supports communities in the South West to set up community-led housing projects to provide housing for local communities.
In the Autumn of 2020, we are working with WCA to produce an eight-part webinar series providing compelling and inspiring hour-long insights into setting up and running community-led housing projects. This eight-part webinar series is part of the Hub's continuing support for groups through the various stages of community housing.
Selgars Mill is a new centre for the democratic economy, climate emergency and social change, a place for movement building, empowering communities and individuals with the practical and strategic tools they need to create change. Set up and run by Stir to Action, Selgars Mill is a workers co-operative and not-for-profit enterprise, with all profits reinvested into the organisation's educational programmes.
Selgars Mill is a beautiful converted 19th Century mill house with cottages, set in eight acres of secluded grounds in the Culm valley in Mid Devon. The site has been curated to allow for focussed learning spaces and comfortable and inspiring conversational spaces, and for work spaces to turn those inspired conversations into functioning community businesses and society-altering campaigns. The centre is due to open in April 2021 with a full programme of events, from short courses to small festivals, organisational away days to cultural residentials. The site is also available for hire.
New Economy Youth is an inspiring programme specifically for young people (18-30 year olds) who are developing enterprise-led and placemaking approaches to address local challenges. During the seven week programme there are workshops that develop participants' understanding of how co-operatives can transform their local economy, get connected to inspiring peers, build confidence and leadership skills, and increase opportunities and networks.
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Our annual festival is a unique three days of inspiring conversations, interactive workshops, virtual reality experiences, live podcasts, idea surgeries, crowdfunding, sustainable food, craft beer, and live music.
The 2020 festival is 1-3 September. If you’re interested in becoming involved as a financial sponsor, exhibitor, or event partner, get in touch with our team via events@stirtoaction.com.
Preston City Council has commissioned development co-operative Stir to Action to deliver a groundbreaking new programme as part of its Community Wealth Building programme, focused on providing targeted support for BAME organisations in the city, stimulating cultural awareness and interest in worker-owned business.
We're actively looking for new local authority partners.
UnFound, a partnership between Stir to Action and Co-operatives UK, is a support programme for tech founders and startups looking for a different way to create and run digital platform businesses.
In 2018 we hosted an eight-week accelerator for a cohort of platform co-operatives in Manchester and London, offering masterclasses, mentoring, and a live fundraising event.
In 2019 we created the UnFound roadshow in partnership with DOT PROJECT, a nationwide event programme in technology and innovation hubs across the UK to raise awareness of the platform co-operative model and the available support.
With an estimated 75,000 places of worship in the UK, there is a historic opportunity for community-led development projects to manage church buildings for both community and spiritual use. With the right strategic support for local people to set up community-owned enterprises, church buildings could play a defining role in transforming local economies.
In July 2017, Stir To Action launched a year-long pilot – Unlocking the Next Economy: Churches and Community Enterprise – to support communities to use church buildings for local enterprise. In the first year we worked with three pilot communities in the South West of England to create new community enterprises through a 16-week programme.
In October 2018 we hosted a national conference — Reimagining our Churches: Conservation to Co-operation – in partnership with the Plunkett Foundation to bring together key people in the church, heritage sector, and those working in community economic development.
We launched our print quarterly magazine in 2013 and published our 25th issue of ‘new economic ideas’ in Spring 2019.
The magazine offers new economic alternatives, exploring where the democratic economy and civic society come together. We feature original illustrations, long-form interviews, and in-depth articles that move beyond traditional commentary and opinion to explore the inspiring and viable alternatives to the current political and economic crisis.
“In a world crowded with opinions but often empty of hope, this magazine is essential reading. You won't find its combination of provocative theory and practical example anywhere else.” —Anna Laycock, Finance Innovation Lab
Co-operation Bridport is a new monthly meetup from Stir to Action and Port East, bringing together local residents, community groups, and businesses to see how we can use community wealth building approaches to transform our economy.
Join us on every second Tuesday of the month at the Stir to Action’s Bridport office to create new approaches that put the local community in charge of the services, assets, and enterprises that matter most to them.