A moment of change

Welcome to 'a moment of change'. Brought to you by On Purpose London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve seen the genesis of a new wave of informal mutual aid groups across the country, pooling volunteers and resources within local communities to help one another through a time of crisis. Could the global pandemic be a turning point in our connectedness to our communities, and to our neighbours in need? <br/>"For a while, people stopped fighting about the normal things they fight about, and just had to get on with it."<br/>In this episode we speak to Cathy Wang, Lily McConnell, and Blake Murphy, three London residents who became organisers of mutual aid in their communities. They tell us why they got involved, their successes and challenges, stories from their local areas, and what makes them hopeful for the future.<br/>Useful links: Listeners in the UK can find mutual aid groups operating in their local communities at https://covidmutualaid.org ThirdSector article https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/analysis-does-mutual-aid-mean-charity-sector/volunteering/article/1683331Cathy’s article https://medium.com/mutual-aid-as-a-startup/5-community-care-lessons-in-covid-6d4f452db755  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we speak to Bilqis and Elsie, leaders working with Citizens UK on the Settle Our Status campaign to settle the immigration status of our neighbours without documents in the UK, giving them access to full participation in public life, in the economy and in their communities.<br/>Useful links:Settle our Status campaign video: https://settleourstatus.org/Read the open letter to Boris Johnson: https://settleourstatus.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social isolation has given us reason to reflect and reevaluate many things – not least our consumer habits, and the impact our purchases have on the planet and on humanity. During this episode we’ll be speaking to three guests leading the charge on sustainable living to understand more about the impact of COVID-19 on our spending habits, both good and bad, and more crucially whether we expect these changes to continue into the future. <br/>Our speakers are Natasha Parker, Head of Compassion Not Consumerism at Global Action Plan, Jarvis Smith co-founder of My Green Pod and Sarah Divall, a creative partner at the environmental charity Hubbub.<br/>Useful links:Don’t Change video: https://youtu.be/4OmBVeewmjYGlobal Action Plan film mentioned by Natasha: Flickers of the Future https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/compassion-not-consumerism/flickers-final-fiveCampaign to Stop Targeted Advertising to Kids https://www.globalactionplan.org.uk/compassion-not-consumerism/stop-targeted-advertising-to-kidsGet My Slice: https://getmyslice.page.link/yDtq3mhM683hVD6d6<br/>Books mentioned:Humankind by Rutger Bregman https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/humankind-9781408898932/How Bad Are Bananas? : The carbon footprint of everything by Mike Berners-Lee https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Mike-Berners-Lee/How-Bad-Are-Bananas--The-carbon-footprint-of-everything/24708373 Drawdown : The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Paul-Hawken/Drawdown--The-Most-Comprehensive-Plan-Ever-Proposed-to-Re/21910985The Fragile Earth: Writing from the New Yorker on Climate Change https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-fragile-earth-writing-from-the-new-yorker-on-climate-change?variant=32600769232974 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since The Marmot Review in 2010, it has been widely accepted that variance in social factors (education, housing, employment and discrimination) lead to variance in health outcomes. A recent review has shown that improvements in life expectancy have been flatlining in the UK during a period of austerity - for the first time since 1900. In this episode we discuss with the leader of a community health organisation his journey in supporting the Caribbean and African community in Manchester and how his work has been impacted by COVID-19.Our guest speaker is Rev Charles Kwaku-Odoi. Alongside his role as Chief Officer for CAHN, Charles co-leads Command Prayer Centre Ministries International and co-chairs Faith Network for Manchester. He specialises in engaging with the Black community in the Diaspora, and also works closely with Terrence Higgins Trust in their delivery of HIV Prevention England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The COVID crisis has further exposed social inequalities and environmental concerns. It has highlighted the demand on food banks, the reliance of many families on school meals and the fragility of our food systems. On the flip side, more people are talking about climate change, food waste and the benefits of growing food at home. In this episode we talk to Carly Trisk-Grove: restaurateur, B Leader and co-creator of a new restaurant concept focused on serving tasty, nourishing food at an accessible price and inspiring a generation of change-makers to level-up their own communities.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Food affects all areas of life - it drives our bodies, our communities and our politics. The food system is complex, nuanced and powerful, but in this changing environment it can be difficult for us to understand how to move towards a truly sustainable system.In this episode, we speak to India Langley, Head of Communications at LettUsGrow to consider what a sustainable and healthy diet actually looks like, and what we can do to actually get there, both as individuals and as a society? Join us to learn about the future of food, and how technology and community can help us achieve a more sustainable, edible future.Useful links:LettUsGrow: LettUsGrowHow much land is used for agriculture: https://ourworldindata.org/land-use Sustainability of vertical farming: https://www.eitfood.eu/blog/post/is-vertical-farming-really-sustainable GHG emissions greenhouse vs plant factory (vertical farm): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321379221_Plant_factories_versus_greenhouses_Comparison_of_resource_use_efficiencyWater usage in agriculture: http://www.fao.org/3/cb1447en/cb1447en.pdf Agriculture number one cause of deforestation: https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/forests_practice/deforestation_causes2/forest_conversion/Deforestation the largest GHG emission source in the food-system: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1402118/icode/The planetary health diet: https://eatforum.org/learn-and-discover/the-planetary-health-diet/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What exactly is a green job and why do we need a just transition?Green jobs should be an answer to address both the urgent economic and environmental needs for society, but what exactly are they? And how do we ensure that in the transition to a new green economy that no one is left behind?This week on the A Moment of Change podcast we’re joined by Denis Fernando, a climate campaigner from Friends of the Earth and Gerry Grattan, a fellow of the On Purpose London programme to discuss green jobs, a just transition, and more personal transitions into the environmental and impact sector. In this episode with Denis we discuss insights from Friends of the Earth’s report An Emergency Plan on Green Jobs for Young People, building the case for green job creation particularly for young people, and the role that the state, business and individuals can play to achieve this. To view the Friends of the Earth report “An emergency plan on green jobs for young people” go to:https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/whats-green-job-and-how-can-we-create-more-themThe Take Action Website from Friends of the Earth is here:https://takeclimateaction.uk/To find out more about Friends of the Earth, what they do, and how to get involved look here:https://friendsoftheearth.uk/Link to IPCC report herehttps://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/Interested in becoming a placement host for On Purpose LondonAre you looking to strengthen your team to develop or deliver important strategy, programmes or projects?Email Hannah Casey at hannah.casey@onpurpose.org or call on 07931 799 868 to talk through how On Purpose and our Associates can support your organisation from April 2022 cohort, working with our Associates - talented career changers moving into the social and environmental impact sector. Interested in become an Associate on the On Purpose London programme?Are you ready to create change? The On Purpose Associate Programme, an alternative to an MBA, equips you with the experience, skills, and support needed to launch a career within the impact sector. Applications are now open! Apply by Monday, October 25th. Read more about the programme here: https://onpurpose.org/en/associate-programme/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What exactly is a green job and why do we need a just transition?Green jobs should be an answer to address both the urgent economic and environmental needs for society, but what exactly are they? And how do we ensure that in the transition to a new green economy that no one is left behind?This week on the A Moment of Change podcast we’re joined by Denis Fernando, a climate campaigner from Friends of the Earth and Gerry Grattan, a fellow of the On Purpose London programme to discuss green jobs, a just transition, and more personal transitions into the environmental and impact sector. In this episode, we speak to Gerry and discuss his personal story of how and why he decided to move out of the oil and gas industry, what a just transition might look like for some of the people he used to work with, as well as get his insights on the ground to what COP 26 is feeling like for people and the social enterprise community in his hometown of Glasgow.Find out more about the organisations that Gerry is involved in here:Extincts CIC https://extincts.orgImpactara https://impactara.co.uk/Link to IPCC report herehttps://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/Interested in becoming a placement host for On Purpose LondonAre you looking to strengthen your team to develop or deliver important strategy, programmes or projects?Email Hannah Casey at hannah.casey@onpurpose.org or call on 07931 799 868 to talk through how On Purpose and our Associates can support your organisation from April 2022 cohort, working with our Associates - talented career changers moving into the social and environmental impact sector. Interested in become an Associate on the On Purpose London programme?Are you ready to create change? The On Purpose Associate Programme, an alternative to an MBA, equips you with the experience, skills, and support needed to launch a career within the impact sector. Applications are now open! Apply by Monday, October 25th. Read more about the programme here: https://onpurpose.org/en/associate-programme/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fashion. It impacts our lives every single day, from the moment we wake up and decide what to put on, to the pyjamas we wear at night. But have you thought about who made your clothes? Where do they come from? What’s the impact of their production and transportation on the environment and communities around the world?As the COP26 summit approaches, numerous reports continue to show the sizeable contribution of the fashion industry on climate change.The time has come for the fashion industry to radically cut emissions, improve efficiencies in supply chains, help adapt and transition local communities, finance the change and collaborate with others to facilitate rapid innovation. And it's not just the big industry players that can drive this transition.We all have a role to play in bringing about this change.In our 2-part podcast on Sustainable Fashion, we’ll talk to industry experts on what we, as individuals, as well as  small businesses, NGOs, and policy makers can do to transform the fashion industry! This week on the A Moment of Change podcast we’re joined by Elizabeth Rich, a sustainable fashion strategist from Forum for the Future.Useful links from this episode include:Fashion Makes Change:  https://fashionmakeschange.org/Forum for the future:https://www.forumforthefuture.org/ Task force for climate disclosure:https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/ Mark Carney’s call for action:https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-climate-change-companies-accounts-idUKKCN26F2X9 The Empowerment Collective: https://empowermentcollective.org/ UN ILO Better Work Programme:https://betterwork.org/ Gaps P.A.C.E program:https://www.gapinc.com/en-us/values/sustainability/social/p-a-c-e-empowering-womenCare International: https://www.careinternational.org.uk/get-involved/corporate-partnerships/financial-inclusion/Vulnerable-Supply-Chains-Facility Her project:https://herproject.org/ Link to IPCC report herehttps://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fashion. It impacts our lives every single day, from the moment we wake up and decide what to put on, to the pyjamas we wear at night. But have you thought about who made your clothes? Where do they come from? What’s the impact of their production and transportation on the environment and communities around the world?As the COP26 summit approaches, numerous reports continue to show the sizeable contribution of the fashion industry on climate change.The time has come for the fashion industry to radically cut emissions, improve efficiencies in supply chains, help adapt and transition local communities, finance the change and collaborate with others to facilitate rapid innovation. And it's not just the big industry players that can drive this transition.We all have a role to play in bringing about this change.In our 2-part podcast on Sustainable Fashion, we’ll talk to industry experts on what we, as individuals, as well as  small businesses, NGOs, and policy makers can do to transform the fashion industry! This week on the A Moment of Change podcast we’re joined by Sabinna Rachimova, a fashion business founder (Sabinna), consultant and lecturer to discuss sustainable fashion and what we can all do to make a difference. Useful links:Sabinna:https://www.sabinna.com/ The Trampery - Hackney Wick:https://thetrampery.com/workspaces/fishislandvillage/ Fashion Revolution - The impact of COVID 19 on people who made our clotheshttps://www.fashionrevolution.org/covid19/ Link to IPCC report herehttps://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of the new series we’re talking to Ian Merrill about Shannon Trust’s work supporting people in prison to learn to read. 57% or people in UK prisons struggle to or can’t read, this impacts an individual’s ability to communicate, contribute to society and participate in further education. Reoffending costs the UK an estimated £18.1 billion and adults released from prison have a proven reoffending rate of 39%. In addition to the impact learning to read can have on an individual’s confidence, self-esteem and communication it also has great potential to reduce reoffending. Join us to hear about these issues and to better understand the challenges of not being able to read in a world that runs on the written word.Ian MerrillIan is CEO of Shannon Trust and has considerable experience of the charitable sector, in roles ranging from volunteer to CEO. His operational background is in substance misuse services, criminal justice, homelessness and mental health. Ian has held senior roles at national charities, and was previously CEO at Tempo, where he led the development of a social currency used to increase volunteering and social action across England and Wales.Further readingNPC Guide to Systems ChangeExplanation of the Iceberg Model Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, On Purpose Associate Ayisha Gulati is talking to Beccy Earnshaw, CEO of Voice 21, about the importance of oracy in schools and empowering young people to find their voice. Voice 21 is the UK’s oracy education charity and they are on a mission to transform the learning and life chances of young people through talk. Spoken language skills are often taken for granted and overlooked in the classroom, but they are one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future life chances. Too many children are not given the opportunity to develop these skills, which is where Voice 21 comes in. The charity partners with schools to enable them to deliver a high-quality oracy education so that all children can use their voice for success in school and in life. Join us to hear more from Beccy about her passion for ensuring all young people’s voices are heard and the important work Voice 21 are doing to bridge the oracy skills gap in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change is a podcast created by On Purpose London Associates. Series 3 of A Moment of Change will discuss systems change with key leaders working in various areas of social and environmental impact, delving into the practicalities of systems change rather than just the theory. In this episode, associates Jonny Singh and Javan Pyne are joined in conversation with current OP mentor Ed Short. The trio reflect on their own diverse experiences, and talk about the way mental health issues affect different communities. Traditional ideals around masculinity can be a barrier to engaging with issues around mental health, and we discuss how we can overcome those barriers to better support each other and the people in our lives. In an open and powerful conversation, Jonny, Javan and Ed consider how by discussing the experiences of both the military veteran community and the afro-caribbean community we can tell a wider story about approaches to male mental health. They talk about how issues of identity, power, social norms, and vulnerability can affect the way men see themselves, each other, and how they interact with their loved ones and wider communities.There are a number of resources available if you or someone you know needs support. These include Black Minds Matter, SANDS, Combat Stress, The Ubele Initiative, and The Samaritans. Please do reach out to these fantastic organisations if you feel that things are getting too difficult to deal with on your own. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change is a podcast created by On Purpose London Associates. Series 3 of A Moment of Change will discuss systems change with key leaders working in various areas of social and environmental impact, delving into the practicalities of systems change rather than just the theory. In this episode, Jonathan Spencer and Felicity Kneeshaw speak to Kali Hamerton-Stove, CEO of The Glasshouse, and Annie Gale, head of the RAW Talent Programme at Cook, on how both organisations are providing training, employment, support and – crucially – hope to people leaving prison.Cook has recruited nearly 150 vulnerable people into work since the programme started in 2014, while The Glasshouse focuses on plant installation and maintenance to provide opportunities to the 4% of the prison population who are female.The UK has one of the worst reoffending rates in the western world: ex-offenders particularly struggle to find employment, yet having a job on release from prison roughly halves the likelihood of committing another crime.Kali and Annie discuss some of the challenges of working within the complex justice system, the impact they are having on both individuals and wider social attitudes, and their hope that other businesses will follow their lead. We also hear first hand from John and Del on how joining Cook has given them a second chance and support network after leaving prison.If you’d like to see Cook’s Raw Talent Programme in action, or speak to the Glasshouse about plantscaping or workshops, then do get in touch with Annie and Kali. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change is a podcast created by On Purpose London Associates, participants of On Purpose’s Associate Programme.For Series 4, the team is looking at an area they’re really passionate about: the circular economy. They’ll be talking to inspiring people and organisations, who share with us ‘Stories of Hope’; stories of their work in the circular economy and the incredible impact they have on our world. In this first episode, Alice, Matt and Sarah speak with Hannah Casey from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation about the diverse ways the organisation is accelerating the transition to a circular economy. They discuss policies that could solve some of the key issues within the circular economy space, how bringing business together can help reduce plastic waste and pollution and what we as individuals can do to become more ‘circular’.For more information about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the work they do to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit their website: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change is a podcast created by On Purpose London Associates, participants of On Purpose’s Associate Programme.For Series 4, the team is looking at an area they’re really passionate about: the circular economy. They’ll be talking to inspiring people and organisations, who share with us ‘Stories of Hope’; stories of their work in the circular economy and the incredible impact they have on our world.In this episode, Miranda and Kate are joined by Thami Schweichler, CEO of United Repair Centre (URC). URC are paving the way to transform the clothing industry by putting people first, one repair at a time. They enable clothing brands to make real social and environmental impact with a digital, one-stop shop for circular solutions.  This discussion explores the current human cost of our throwaway mindset to clothing. We all want to do our best to consume more responsibly, and this conversation highlights the importance of a mindset and behaviour shift towards thinking of clothing as a long-term investment, which can be repaired repeatedly and kept in circulation for as long as possible. We also discuss URC's business model and how technology has the potential to act as a catalyst for wide-scale adoption of circular thinking in business. Thami leaves us feeling hopeful about the future of the circular economy, noting increasing collaboration over competition among brands. Plus, he shares practical tips for integrating circular thinking into your daily life. For more information about URC  and the work they do to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit their website.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change is a podcast created by On Purpose London Associates, participants of On Purpose’s Associate Programme.For Series 4, the team is looking at an area they’re really passionate about: the circular economy. They’ll be talking to inspiring people and organisations, who share with us ‘Stories of Hope’; stories of their work in the circular economy and the incredible impact they have on our world.Our current food system is the leading cause of soil degradation, water pollution, deforestation and loss of wildlife. In episode 3 of the podcast, Amy and Will speak to Harriet Cherry, Agriculture Relationship Manager at Wildfarmed, a regenerative food brand on a mission to change farming, transform landscapes and regenerate nature. In this episode we discuss how farming can restore nature’s ecosystems instead of merely extracting from it. How instead of degrading nature, agricultural practices can build natural capital and shift our farming focus from yields to a more holistic view of improving biodiversity. And critically we learn more about why we need to address this now.Despite the challenges faced in our agricultural and food systems, Harriet leaves us feeling hopeful about the growing regenerative movement that Wildfarmed is part of. She also remind us of the agency that we all have as individuals to create change through our food choices. For more information about Wildfarmed and the work they do to transform landscapes through regenerative agriculture, visit their website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Any strategy that gets put forward at this point that doesn't seem at least a bit ridiculous is really not ambitious enough.” – Rob Hopkins🎙️ …and with that challenge, we’re kicking off our new podcast series A Moment of Change: Creativity for Action. Episode 1 is now live: How Creative Stories Build Communities.Join our host Rhea Patel as she dives into this challenge with two incredible changemakers using creativity to shake things up:🎵 Oli Frost – climate satirist whose novelty songs, spoof apps and viral stunts (including the one that got Greta Thunberg doing the Macarena) use humour to cut through the noise🌱 Rob Hopkins – co-founder of the Transition movement, author, podcaster and imagination activist inspiring communities worldwideTogether, they explore how humour and imagination can spark connection, shift culture, and bring people together in the face of crisis.We hope you enjoy the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Moment of Change podcast episode #2 Paint the Streets: Street Art and Action in Colombia When my OnPurpose cohort came together to relaunch the ‘Moment of Change’ podcast I certainly didn’t think that six months later I’d be hosting and editing an episode about Street Art, let alone one featuring a guest from Colombia, yet here we are. Being an OnPurpose associate (now Fellow!) has constantly thrown up new and exciting possibilities, and this is certainly one I’m grateful to have been part of.  The episode will be released in the coming days, but I wanted to take the chance to share some background on the topic, our guests, Alejandro and Andres, and how this podcast came to fruition. When the series title Creativity for Action was selected, I was pretty resigned to playing minimal role in its creation given creativity is far from my strength. A couple of days later though, I was running through one of my favourite places in London, the Leake Street arches (or the “graffiti tunnel” as I like to call it). Here, graffiti artists and muralists (yes, there is a difference I’ve found out!) gather to constantly update the walls with whatever inspires them. Often, political statements will catch my eye and get me thinking about Banksy’s work. Banksy, being the most famous street artist who regularly uses their art to make political statements, the most recent being an artwork on the Royal Courts of Justice building, depicting a judge hammering down a protester, just days after hundreds of Palestine Action protestors were arrested. With a newfound appreciation for what Creativity for Action could mean, I started to think maybe I could host a podcast episode. One about Banksy and the impact street artists try to make. The obvious guest would’ve been Banksy themselves… a little tricky, perhaps! A few weeks later I was in Brighton with a fellow OnPurpose associate (Andres) who was in the latest April 2025 cohort. We got onto the topic of the podcast, and he immediately told me about his brother, Alejandro, who is a street artist for impact in Colombia. His passion for his brother’s work and the impact he’s making in communities immediately hooked me, and from there, I knew I had my episode. Many months later, I’m proud to say we recorded a wonderful conversation about what Alejandro does in Colombia and I even conquered the art of editing (tracks shifting out of sequence could not conquer me!). I won’t spoil the episode but I really hope people enjoy listening and learning about real community work that is making a difference on the ground, as well as bigger pieces of art that make a statement! As I learned from the brothers: seguimos siendo niños - We’re still childrenAnd finally, one of my favourite quotes from the episode:  “...you can make an impact with small acts, so just start doing something and the world will change, it doesn't matter if it's a big mural or if you share 2 minutes with a grandma…”. Happy listening, AndreasAlejandro goes by the name Agüd for his street art - you can follow him on Instagram or via his website https://agud95.com/en-en?srsltid=AfmBOooGshYhJB3zA4aIlW7KVjg6vFZ5xT9lEAMqSEkJm9dE1GkN8vkcInsta - @agud95 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.