Conversations about a Collaborative Society with Lord Victor Adebowale

Sarah Gorman, Director of Edberts House

Edberts House is a community organisation and hub in Gateshead that works with the community to create happier, more vibrant places to live. In this inspiring conversation, Sarah strips away the jargon and gets to the heart of how change happens: through connections and relationships. This conversation is filled with examples of what happens when you see people in the round, and not just through a service lens. Sarah also shares how her entire career has been about putting communities and people in the lead, and her frustration with the tendency of parts of the public service system to make the simple complicated.

Malik Gul, Director of the Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network

In a passionate and personal conversation, Malik argues for better collaboration between communities and public institutions and an ‘in-between space’ where people can work together to build relationships and navigate change. Malik reflects on his formative years of activism in south London and the challenges facing communities today. With a sense of optimism, he shares how he believes a ‘revolution’ is growing among young people and discusses what this might mean for the future.

Steve Reed, Labour candidate for Croydon North, Shadow Minister for Children and Families, former leader of Lambeth Council

The architect of the Cooperative Councils movement in Lambeth while council leader, the Labour candidate draws on his family and personal history to explain why he thinks that public service organisations must ‘invert the pyramid’, challenging hierarchy and self-interest (however well-meaning) to empower people and service users. Steve reflects honestly on what he learned from his time at Lambeth, and the signs of hope he sees now across the political spectrum for a rebalancing of power through a new social contract.

*Steve Reed is no longer a Member of Parliament as Parliament has been dissolved until after the General Election. This episode was recorded on the 9th July 2019.

Dr Henry Kippin, currently Executive Director of Public Service Reform at West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), soon to be Director of Economic Growth for NTCA and former Chief Executive of Collaborate

Henry has dedicated his career to building collaborations as a route to better social outcomes. Drawing on his experience, from Africa to the West Midlands, Henry reflects on the role of policy in shaping society, and the disconnect between politics and people. Henry shares his perspectives on the power of place, the opportunities devolution can bring, and the potential of public service reform.

Lord Gary Porter, district councillor and former Chair of the Local Government Association

Reflecting on a long career in local government, latterly as Chair of the LGA, Lord Porter makes the case for decent housing being the bedrock of a healthy society, and for us to view the ageing population as an asset. He reflects on the types of leadership required for social change and the importance of building national, cross-party consensus on the complex challenges facing society.

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust

Recorded at one of the Trussell Trust foodbanks, in this podcast Emma reflects on what the increasing demand for foodbanks says about society today. She talks about the importance of food as a means of generating social relationships, and why being able to extend hospitality to others matters. Discussing the strengths she thinks exist in society, Emma shares her views on the power of volunteers and makes the case for the importance of collaborative leadership in generating social change.

Patrick Vernon, social commentator and political activist, founder of the Windrush amnesty campaign

Patrick is a polymath social campaigner, cultural historian, activist and reformer. An example of someone who works both outside and within systems to effect change, Patrick has spent time as a councillor in East London, former director of the Black Thrive movement in Lambeth and established the high-profile campaign that successfully challenged the Government’s treatment of the Windrush generation. He is currently an Associate Director for the Centre for Ageing. In this thoughtful conversation, Patrick reflects the challenges facing society today and why we need to collaborate to address entrenched social and economic inequalities.

Professor Donna Hall, former CEO of Wigan Council and CCG, Chair of NLGN and Chair of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester

Donna led a quiet revolution at Wigan, introducing 'The Deal', an informal agreement between the council and everyone who lives and works in Wigan to collaborate to create a better borough. Donna describes why she thinks the Wigan Deal is a blueprint for public services and organisations of the future, what it means for the culture and practice of councils, and the type of leadership to oversee this change.

Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Public Health, LB of Southwark

Kevin describes his journey from working on large scale public health programmes for two US Presidents to becoming the Director of Public Health in Southwark. This episode is full of thoughtful reflection and insight into why collaboration in public services matters, real examples of what this means for how organisations work, and why working with local communities is the key to improving public health.