The Social Change Pod

Episod

• 
  036: Facing Fear with Trust: A Conversation on Funding & Community Resilience 06.08.2026 49min

  What happens when the biggest risk isn't funding grassroots organisations, but failing to?In this episode, The Social Change Nest's own Ana Steiner is joined by Misbah Malik from Hope Not Hate, Oli Whittington from Our House UK and Veda Harrison from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to unpack what it really takes to build resilient communities in an age of fear, misinformation, and growing political division.Together, they explore why grassroots organisations are carrying more risk than ever, how long-term unrestricted funding can unlock creativity and lasting systems change, and why communities may be far less divided than the headlines suggest. From trust-based philanthropy to the power of local relationships, this conversation challenges what we think we know about risk and offers a hopeful vision for rebuilding stronger communities.
• 
  035: Funding Change: Why Movements Need Flexible and Long-Term Support 24.06.2026 52min

  Why does traditional philanthropy rely so heavily on rigid, transactional controls, and how is that micro-management stifling real, systemic change?Join The Social Change Nest's Kristen Woolf together with Claudia Giampietri from Healthy Food Healthy Planet and Sandra Kushrawi from Famtastisch Foundation as they unpack the urgent shift toward trust-based, flexible funding.Together, they explore why complex "wicked" problems, such as transforming our food systems, cannot be solved with short-term project grants or rigid KPIs. Instead, they share how rewriting the traditional philanthropic playbook through relational check-ins, shared risk, and innovative co-design models can shift power directly back to grassroots movements. They also dive into the critical role of infrastructure, discussing how partnering with a fiscal host like The Social Change Nest allows intermediaries and funders to be braver, de-risk radical collaboration, and make movement funding more human.
• 
  034: Rethinking Funding: Why Put Your Trust in Place-Based Groups 19.05.2026 47min

  Join The Social Change Nest's Rufaro Mudavanho together with Elijah Williams from Brent Giving and Andy Crosbie and Rich Gibbons from Gateshead Community Bridgebuilders, on the latest episode of The Social Change Pod as they explore the power of place-based community work, highlighting how organisations like Gateshead Community Bridge Builders and Brent Giving empower local voices through participatory decision-making and funding.Together, they unpack what community-led decision-making looks like in practice, why funding needs to support capacity and relationships as well as projects, and how the ripple effects of place-based work can reach far beyond what is easy to measure.This episode is packed with honest reflections, practical insight, and big questions for funders, community groups, and anyone interested in how change really happens on the ground.Want to learn more about Gateshead Community Bridge Builders and Brent Giving, or explore how The Social Change Nest can support place-based work? Get in touch to find out how we can help.If you'd like to join the discussion on place-based work and what's going on in our communities, join us at our Wild Times un-conference on the 15th of September. You can find more information by visiting www.wildtimesuk.org.Host: Rufaro Mudavanhu, The Social Change NestGuests: Elijah Williams, Brent Giving, Andy Crosbie, Gateshead Community Bridgebuilders, Rich Gibbons, Gateshead Community BridgebuildersTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  033: Paying People Fairly: Building Trust and Equity 13.11.2025 33min

  Join The Social Change Nest's CEO, Esther Foreman and Rachel Smith, Creative Director of Make/Shift, on the latest episode of The Social Change Pod as they unpack what it really looks like to pay people fairly for their time, energy, and expertise, exploring how Payment for Involvement works in practice when you’re navigating the “messy middle” between big institutions and grassroots communities. They also dive into how tools like Open Collective can bridge that gap by making funding more transparent.This episode is packed with practical insights, honest reflections, and advice. So if you’re looking to make your approach to community involvement fairer and more accessible, you won’t want to miss it.Want help designing a fair and equitable payment for involvement policy for your organisation? Are you interested in learning more about Open Collective? Get in touch to find out how we can help.Hosts: Esther Foreman, The Social Change NestGuests: Rachel Smith from Make/ShiftTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  032: Fair Pay for Lived Experience: Lessons from Bristol City Council 08.10.2024 23min

  Today we are talking about the mammoth topic of Payment for Involvement, part of our Payment for Involvement podcast series that we’ve been running over the past couple of months since the launch of the payment for Involvement playbook.In the previous episode, we explored why it’s so important for organisations to recognise and value lived experience and to pay people for their involvement.In this episode we’re joined by three, absolutely brilliant guests from Bristol City Council.They share their journey of creating and implementing a payment for involvement policy in a local authority and discuss the practicalities of how you actually pay people as well.This episode is really jam packed with insightful learnings from their first hand experience. So whether you’re from a local authority, a nonprofit, or really just any organisation that’s looking to engage more equitably and fairly with the communities that you’re serving, you won’t want to miss it.Want help designing a fair and equitable payment for involvement policy for your organisation? Get in touch to find out how we can help.Hosts: Saoirse Barry, The Social Change NestGuests: Robyn Taylor, Megan Belcher and Ellie Stevens from Bristol City CouncilTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  031: Payment for Involvement - When Compensation Affects Benefits 30.04.2024 18min

  What happens when you compensate people for their involvement, but doing so negatively impacts their eligibility for government benefits?  Together, we'll unpack why paying people for their lived experience is the right thing to do, but also explore the challenges of doing this effectively without disrupting people's benefits.  This is something we've been grappling with as an organisation for the last six months, and over the course of this three part mini-series we'll be sharing everything we've learned along the way.  p.s. Keep a look out for the launch of our free 'Payment for Involvement Playbook'. Designed to help you create a fair payment for involvement policy for your organisation.Hosts: Julia Fausing and Rachel Krengel, The Social Change AgencyTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  030: Join our board as a Non-Executive Director 05.04.2023 13min

  Are you a renegade anarchist who loves rules, compliance and risk management? We're looking for a new Non-Executive Director to join The Social Change Nest board. In this episode Pete Treganna (Non-Executive Director) and Sapna Patel (Operations Director) discuss what the role involves and why we'd love for you to apply!Interested in being on the board of The Social Change Nest? Find out more and apply at https://thesocialchangenestorg/vacancies/Host: Pete Treganna and Sapna Patel, The Social Change Agency/NestTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  029: We're in this together - Reflecting on movement trends in 2023 21.02.2023 19min

  Tactics employed by social movements are evolving, strikes are enjoying unprecedented levels of public support, and communities are increasingly taking matters into their own hands.Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor discuss some of the movement trends they've been observing in 2023.What trends have you been noticing? Share your thoughts by tagging us on Twitter @SocialChangeAgHost: Anya Stern and Aggie Taylor, The Social Change AgencyTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  028: What makes an effective protest movement with James Ozden from Social Change Lab 31.10.2022 24min

  Esther Foreman and Rachel Krengel from The Social Change Agency meet up with James Ozden, Director at Social Change Lab to explore what it takes to build an effective protest movement.Topics covered include: - why some protest movements flourish (and some don't)- whether disruptive tactics work- the importance of shared identity and collaboration- the need for more funding to be directed to towards social movements- how to avoid volunteer burn out- and much, much more!You can find out more about Social Change Lab at socialchangelab.org and find James Ozden on Twitter at @JamesOzden.Visit us at thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHost: Esther Foreman and Rachel Krengel, The Social Change AgencyGuests: James Ozden, Social Change LabeTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  027: Innovating funding with Chris Manion from the British Science Association 02.09.2022 17min

  Today we're speaking with the Head of Grants at the British Science Association, Chris Manion. We'll be discussing The Ideas Fund, an innovative public engagement program that provides grants for community groups and researchers who have new ideas for addressing local challenges related to mental health and wellbeing. We'll also be looking at the role funders play in bringing about social change, the power imbalances that accompany grant giving and what funders can do to ensure they address this imbalance.You can find out more about The Ideas Fund at www.theideasfund.orgIf you are a funder and you would like to meet with other funders to discuss the challenges, ideas, and opportunities relating to grant making, then head over to www.losingcontrol.orgVisit us at thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHost: Maisie PalmerGuests: Chris Manion, British Science AssociationTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  026: Leveraging pop culture for social change with Alice Sachrajda and Marzena Zukowska 08.02.2022 27min

  In this episode, we chat to Alice Sachrajda and Marzena Zukowska, authors of New Brave World: The power, opportunities and potential of pop culture for social change in the UK.We explore the opportunities for leveraging pop culture for social change and share examples of where pop culture has already proven to be a powerful driver of social change.You can read the full 'New Brave World' report at: unboundphilanthropy.org/new-brave-worldVisit us at thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHost: Kate EdwardsGuests: Alice Sachrajda and Marzena ZukowskaTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  025. The latest in participatory grantmaking and Shift The Power with Hannah Paterson 21.04.2021 26min

  We check in with Hannah Paterson on the latest developments in participatory grantmaking and the Shift The Power movement. Plus, we discuss Hannah's new role as Senior Portfolio Manager – Innovation, Policy and Practice at the National Lottery Community Fund.
• 
  024. Everything I know about community building with Michael Parsons from Guy's and St Thomas' Charity 03.12.2020 30min

  This episode is a conversation between our consultant Rachel Krengel and Michael Parsons, Portfolio Manager at Guy’s and St Thomas' Charity, which is a foundation dedicated to addressing health inequalities in urban areas. We’ve been working with them on a project to support 20 communities in Southwark and Lambeth during the Covid-19 emergency and beyond. We are piloting ways to get direct financial support into these communities, this has including working mutual aid groups, tenants and residents associations (TRAs) and other community groups. They discuss how to effectively work closely with communities and how they avoided certain common pitfalls. They talk about how to get money to communities in a way that’s flexible and built on trust, while also complying with traditional regulatory requirements. Plus, they look to the role community groups can play in providing social infrastructure at a time when many charities and councils are struggling.
• 
  023. Everything I know about community building with Lindon Rankin 06.10.2020 20min

  In this episode, our consultant Rachel Krengel speaks to Lindon Rankin, who is an organiser at the African ‘n’ Caribbean Wellbeing Group based in Southwark. Lindon’s is one of the many community groups we at SCA support. In this podcast, Rachel talks to Lindon about his journey into community organising, his experiences of organising during the pandemic and how he believes grassroots groups can structure and govern themselves for maximum impact.
• 
  022. Everything I know about social movements with Amy Hulme, fair pay campaigner and consultant 02.09.2020 32min

  In this podcast, speak to Amy Hulme, Senior Consultancy Manager at The Social Change Agency and fair pay campaigner, who reflects on her time campaigning for the Living Wage. She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and dealing with the slow pace of corporate behaviour change as a campaigner.
• 
  021. Everything I know about movements with Mita Desai, Young Trustees Movement 05.08.2020 27min

  In this podcast, speak to Mita Desai, programme manager for the Young Trustees Movement. She shares her journey into activism and discusses how to build a successful strategy, movement-building misconceptions and balancing the need to lead with the need to let go of control.
• 
  020: Digital solutions for communities and campaigners with Brian Young (Part 2) 31.03.2020 14min

  This is part 2 of a two-part interview featuring Brian Young, the Executive Director of Action Network in conversation with Betsy, our principal director.Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.As we record this, we’re facing the corona pandemic induced lockdown and Betsy and Brian reflect on ways technology can bring communities together, asking how to foster connections between people when contact is off the cards. And how to make the brilliant work of community groups responding to the Covid-19 pandemic easier?Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHosts: Betsy Dillner and Kate EdwardsGuest: Brian YoungProducer: Maria MancusoTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  019: Digital solutions for communities and campaigners with Brian Young (Part 1) 31.03.2020 19min

  This is part 1 of a two-part interview featuring Brian Young, the Executive Director of Action Network in conversation with Betsy, our principal director. Action Network is a non-profit dedicated to providing cutting edge technology to the progressive movement.Brian discusses how to build power between people, rather than their online profiles. Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHosts: Betsy Dillner and Kate EdwardsGuest: Brian YoungProducer: Maria MancusoTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  018: Participatory grant-making with Hannah Paterson 24.02.2020 18min

  In this episode, we're sitting down with Hannah Paterson a Churchill Fellow exploring participatory grant-making. Participatory grant-making (PGM) is a means of putting funding decisions into the hands of those affected by the decisions. Done right, it can fundamentally shift power blurring the traditional roles of ‘funder’ and ‘grantee’.Hannah will be running a session on PGM at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning event’ on the 4th March 2020. It will be a day of honest conversations with funders, grantmakers and grantees looking at how we should be innovating to better address the social challenges we face today.Find out more here: https://www.losingcontrol.org/programme-funding-commissioning-2020/Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHost: Kate EdwardsGuest: Hannah PatersonProducer: Maria MancusoTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music
• 
  017: Funding movements and networks with Uma Mishra-Newbery 24.02.2020 18min

  In this episode, we chat with Uma Mishra-Newbery, Executive Director of Women’s March Global, to talk through some of the challenges inherent in the funding sector and the opportunities that lie in changing the traditional approach. Uma is running a session at our ‘Losing Control in funding and commissioning event’ on the 4th March 2020. It will be a day of honest conversations with funders, grantmakers and grantees looking at how we should be innovating to better address the social challenges we face today. Uma’s session is on ‘Funding movements and networks, not people and projects'. Find out more here: https://www.losingcontrol.org/losing-control-in-funding-commissioning/Visit us at www.thesocialchangeagency.orgFollow us on Twitter at @SocialChangeAgHost: Esther ForemanGuest: Uma Mishra-NewberyProducer: Maria MancusoTheme music by Loyalty Freak Music