Embracing change – a time for reflection: With so much going on in the world, climate change, wildfire, food shortages, people fleeing wars and persecution, losing their homes, and losing their lives trying to find better ones, we reflect on how we can challenge ourselves to be ‘thinking differently, acting differently, learning differently’ in order to bring about positive change. We have been exploring what we stand for in the world and how we can best use our resources, skills, knowledge, power and experience to do this. This update will focus on two areas that we have been focusing on. As this is an ongoing journey, there are other areas we are currently working to develop too.
1. Anti-racism – embedding this at heart of our work: Since 2020, Caplor Horizons has been on a journey towards becoming an anti-racist organisation. This intensive commitment has required us to first understand the issues of racism in ourselves, our work practises and society, and then to take action to address and change accordingly. With consistent engagement from the Board and the team, we are currently at the stage of designing an anti-racism strategy, which will put this focus at the heart of how we work. We are deeply appreciative of Chandra (Ladwa) and Saf (Ghapson) for so skilfully leading us on this journey. Please see them pictured below with some of the Caplor Horizons team at a training day.
Here are some links for two informative papers on this subject from Bond the UK network for organisations working in international development.
2. Rolling out our Change Makers Programme: We have been consolidating our leadership, culture, team, and change programmes we have been undertaking with our partners for several years, and this has developed into our ‘Change Makers Programme’. We have in the last year been starting to deliver this with various partners, including:
Redbrick – an inspirational organisation in Glastonbury, UK, most famous for its music and arts festival, for its connection with the spirit and soul, stretching back into the long distant past. Redbrick creates exciting experiences and opportunities for people from within the Glastonbury community and beyond, notably related to education, art and enterprise. You can read more about the Redbrick via its website here. Going through a period of significant growth, we are working through issues around different models of leadership and strategic alignment across all the facets of this highly inspirational and ambitious community led project, to enable community cohesion and development. To watch a short video of the development of this grassroots community led project, please click here.
Riversimple – a small team, trying to solve an enormous problem. Riversimple is a sustainable car company working to eliminate, systematically, the environmental impact of personal transport. Riversimple’s first vehicle, the Rasa, is an electric car powered by hydrogen. With the world moving to replace petrol and diesel cars within 10-20 years, hydrogen fuel cell cars have an important role to play alongside battery electric vehicles. Fiona and Hugo Spowers, the Directors and Founders, commented: "we can see the positive effects of the change maker programme on the company culture – all the more remarkable in that it doesn’t feel like a programme at all. Everyone in the company looks forward to the sessions and they are undoubtedly strengthening the team’s sense of commitment to Riversimple".
Refugee Action – We are also currently supporting Refugee Action, in the UK, along with seven other refugee organisations, in delivering an Emerging Leaders Programme (see our last update for more details). We have drawn on many of our Advisors' work, including, Lynne Sedgmore and Seamus O’Gorman, amongst others, in the design and delivery of modules.
We will be launching the full programme, later this year, please watch this space…
Change Maker of the Week
Rumi quote: “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.”
Best wishes
Ian, Rosie, Lorna, Kemal and Iain