Prestigious Acumen Fellowships for Churchill Fellows
For the first time, prestigious international Acumen Fellowships have been awarded to Churchill Fellows. Four of our Fellows have been chosen to take part in this year-long training and networking opportunity.
"It will help to strengthen the impact of my Churchill Fellowship on structural inequalities facing young people across education and employment, and issues of structural racism in the charity sector" - Fatima Iftikhar, Fellow
Acumen is an organisation that supports social change and their Fellowship programme brings together individuals working on eradicating poverty and injustice. This opportunity will build upon the Churchill Fellowships already carried out by these Fellows by enabling them to connect and collaborate with experts in their field.
The chosen Fellows are Eifion Williams (CF 2018), Fatima Iftikhar (CF 2018), John Harrison (CF 2019) and Kevin Munday (CF 2011). Over the course of a year, these Fellows will come together in a series of residentials and virtual seminars to inspire change within their sectors and communities.
Churchill Fellow Fatima Iftikhar says: “This Acumen Fellowship provides an opportunity for deep reflection and innovation on the challenges to social justice work in our current climate. It will help to strengthen the impact of my Churchill Fellowship on structural inequalities facing young people across education and employment, and issues of structural racism in the charity sector.”
Eifion Williams is the CEO of community interest company, Circular Economy Wales. In his role, Eifion is working towards rebuilding communities through circulating resources and the subsequent wealth it generates. Eifion’s Churchill Fellowship investigated co-operatively managed dual currency systems in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
Fatima Iftikhar is a founding organiser of #CharitySoWhite, a movement that is tackling racism in the charity sector. Additionally, Fatima co-founded #POCIMPACT, a community that recognises and connects people from minoritised racial communities in the social impact sector. Fatima’s Churchill Fellowship explored youth social action as a tool for improving outcomes for university students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the USA.
John Harrison is the community manager of homeless charity Emmaus in the North East of England. Through his work, John is promoting community, work and solidarity as a way to support and empower people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion. John’s Churchill Fellowship investigated how involvement in farming practices can improve wellbeing in Belgium, Canada, Italy, Norway and The Netherlands.
Kevin Munday is the chief executive of City Year UK, a youth charity that runs an annual leadership programme for 18-25-year olds. As part of his work, Kevin helps young people develop as leaders to help them excel in the workplace long after their placement has ended. Kevin’s Churchill Fellowship explored ways that employers can use vocational training as a tool to attract and train more young people in the workplace.