CTRLshift: An Emergency Summit for Change 2

We seek to catalyse a network of change-making organisations, networks and independent practitioners, creating a movement for positive social, economic and environmental change. We are developing a shared agenda to shift power over our democracy, economy and environment to people and communities across Britain. Let’s get the whole system in the room.

Why is this summit crucial?

We are in a time of great uncertainty and unfolding crises

The social, economic and environmental failures of the current system are being cruelly exposed by rising inequality, social division, increasingly precarious and insecure employment, an alarming loss of biodiversity and accelerating climate change. On a personal level,  an increasing number of people are struggling to meet basic needs of food and housing and maintain positive mental health.

A better future exists

Across the UK individuals, organisations and networks are working to create a future that is inclusive, collaborative, and creates shared benefits. We are creating affordable low carbon housing, local food, renewable energy, sustainable transport, and alternative finance systems from the ground up. Co-operative solutions, entrepreneurial innovation and new forms of democratic and social change are showing ways forward and in some places building local partnerships with the public sector. But these public social partnerships are relatively rare and need greater investment and support. We have the research and policy proposals, campaigns and participatory processes to support new forms of social innovation.

But we lack voice and coordination

Whilst many of the people working for a more participatory, inclusive and regenerative future share a set of values, and are working towards similar goals, our work remains fragmented and siloed. We have yet to demonstrate that we can bring together the different components we are each engaged in to create an alternative system, and our advocacy and policy work lacks voice and coordination. We struggle to work across identities of class, colour, culture, nationality, gender, politics and religion, even when we share values and aspirations for the future.

In the (probable) departure from the EU and its aftermath, there will be unprecedented opportunities to shape the future of the UK. Will our collective voice be heard, or will the alternatives we have developed be ignored?

Help us shape a positive post Brexit future

Our purpose is to create the spaces where we can ‘shape our future together’ locally, regionally and nationally.

We believe that the best way to effect change is to bring together those working to reform the system with those actively building practical radical alternatives on the ground. We want to bring together activists, organisers, commoners and entrepreneurs to develop a shared agenda to shift power over our democracy, economy and environment, from Westminster and multinational corporations, to people and communities across the UK. By bringing these solutions together and mobilising people for local and regional action we can make ‘taking back control’ a positive reality.