Learning from the world. Inspiring change in the UK.
We are the Churchill Fellowship: a UK charity which supports individual UK citizens to follow their passion for change, through learning from the world and bringing that knowledge back to the UK. Together our community of Churchill Fellows use their international learning to lead the change they wish to see across every area of UK life. We were founded by public donation in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill for the nation.
This year, we’re delighted to introduce a brand-new Fellowship programme: Civic and democratic engagement. If you have an idea to strengthen democracy, civic participation, or community voice in the UK, please this could be the opportunity for you. Applications open on 1 September, so now is a great time to explore our programmes and find the one that works best for your idea.
Last week, we welcomed our 2026 Churchill Fellows to London for Connect & Inspire, their first in-person gathering as a cohort and the starting point for their Fellowship journey.
On 3 July 2026, Churchill Fellows from our Children and Young People in Care programme came together at the Coram Campus in London for an afternoon of conversation, connection, and shared learning.
We’re proud to introduce 109 new Churchill Fellows for 2026.
Churchill Fellows are a unique source of ideas from around the world for a range of issues across all areas of UK society. Read some of their latest below or head to our News and Views section to find out more.
Sarah Walters reflects on how her Churchill Fellowship learning from the USA and Canada continues to shape her work to end women’s homelessness in the UK. Her visits showed the power of gender-informed, trauma-aware services designed around women’s experiences, from specialist housing to support that helps women rebuild their lives. She shares how this learning informed a women-only respite hotel as part of Crisis at Christmas 2025, and how it continues to inspire change in services for women experiencing homelessness.
By Sarah Walters, 6 August 2026
We spoke to Natasha Cox about how her Churchill Fellowship helped shape the next stage of Actively SeeK.I.N.G, the CIC she founded to support Black boys through creative arts. Drawing on learning from schools in the USA, Ghana, and the Caribbean, Natasha has launched the House of K.I.N.G.s Saturday School. She reflects on how the Fellowship deepened her work, opened new doors, and helped turn her research into practical support for young people in East London.
By Natasha Cox, 10 July 2026
Following her Fellowship across Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, Clare Holdsworth reflects on how paid lived-experience roles can support care-experienced young people to shape services, policy, and practice. Drawing on conversations with organisations, professionals, and young people, she explores what it takes to make these roles psychologically safe, meaningful, and supportive of long-term careers. She is now sharing this learning in Sheffield, using curiosity as a way to ask better questions with young people, not just about them.
By Clare Holdsworth, 18 June 2026
By Soraya Ali, 7 August 2026
By Ailish Langan, 24 July 2026
By Paul Smith, 24 July 2026
The Fellowship inspires change at many different levels. Fellows combine their personal vision and experience with their global learning to strengthen UK communities and sectors and influence services and policies locally and nationally. Many also tell us about the transformational impact of the Fellowship on their own lives.
Learn moreWe welcome support for our unique programme of Fellowships, which transform lives, communities and professions across the UK. You can help our work through donations, partnerships and legacies, which are vital for growing the impact and the opportunity we offer. We are always pleased to discuss ways to get involved.
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