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William Temple Foundation in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) and the University of Notre Dame London Programme. This conference will launch an international search for Radical Hope and open up questions and debates relevant to faith based organisations in the public square and their response to poly-crises. The conference will be a hybrid gathering to reflect the conditions and spaces of engagement that make up the public square in the 21st Century. The gathering will explore questions of freedom of religion and belief in the public square, truth and propaganda, and the role that dialogue can play in developing shared values in the public square.

Our democracy is in poor health. Trust and satisfaction with political parties and government is at an all time low and the gap between people and power is growing wider by the day.
But it’s not a strongman leader people want to change this. It’s more citizen involvement in democracy. This is according to brand new polling from More in Common for Power to Change.
Power to Change’s new report, Closing the void, explores whether people who are involved in associational organisations – like community businesses and working men’s clubs – are more likely trust democratic institutions than those who are not. Join us, and a panel of political and community experts to hear more about this research and how we can rebuild trust in democracy from the ground up.

“The greatest gift we can give ourselves is the gift of belonging.” — Gabor Maté
Human beings flourish when they feel a sense of belonging. But why is belonging so important? Join us in person this May as we explore the biological, physiological, and psychological impact of belonging.
We invite a diverse array of voices from academia, industry, and personal experience to share their insights, knowledge and stories. Our speakers will share how belonging can enrich individual lives, foster healthier communities, and increase societal connectedness.
Throughout your two-day experience there will be the opportunity to hear from our inspirational speakers and participate in immersive workshops hosted by our values-aligned partners. These workshops will help you reflect on the day, supporting you to embed theoretical knowledge into daily practice.

Power to Change has long advocated for greater investment in and support of community business, but there has been a gap in the quantitative evidence base around the unique economic contribution that community business makes, both at national and local levels.
Power to Change’s new report provides an estimate of the total economic contribution made by community business in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA), the first time this has been done in the sector. In this panel discussion, we will discuss the findings of this research, and the ways in which community businesses can use the report's key figures to make the case for investment.

A day conference exploring some of the riches offered by Churches whose roots come from beyond the UK
Britain today is blessed by communities from all over the world and, among them, there are Churches which bring new life and fresh theological perspectives. This day is a chance to share some of these riches, to begin to appreciate non-Western ways of thinking, and to discover new insights by practising receptive learning from one another.

The sell-out event returns for its 6th year. As community power rises up the national agenda, join us for Stronger Things 2025. Together we’ll reimagine the future of public services and unleash the potential in our places. New Local is an independent think tank and network with a mission to transform public services and unlock community power.

2025 marks the 40th Anniversary of the publication of the influential report of Archbishop Runcie’s Commission on Urban Priority Areas. While the Thatcher government rejected it as “naive Marxism, and largely ignored its recommendations to the nation, it was followed by more than a decade of extensive initiatives in urban mission in the Church of England and other denominations.
Much has changed over 40 years, but issues of urban poverty and injustice have not disappeared, and there are few signs that Churches and other Christian activity are flourishing in such places. Indeed there are signs that neither government nor church are making them a priority for action and investment, and that people living there are increasingly feeling left behind.
This conference, one of a series of events across the country, is a chance to reflect on the theology and practice of urban mission, then and now. There will be input from leading practitioners who were involved in the 1980s, and those who are leading mission and church activities today.
It will be of interest to anyone who lives and works in the inner city, or on social housing estates. We hope it will encourage and inform, and be a catalyst for a renewed movement to develop Faith in the City and hope in urban churches and communities.