the ProgrammeA peer learning community for people shifting power.
A facilitated, online peer learning programme for people shifting decision-making in social justice organisations — away from tokenistic and hierarchical, towards participatory and community-led. So that nothing about us is decided without us.
This programme is for you if…
Shift Circle is for people committed to transforming organisations so that people most affected by decisions aren’t just consulted but truly listened to, valued, and given space to lead.
You're working to centre lived experience in decision-making
You want to reflect, work through challenges, and learn from others
You're ready to challenge yourself and your organisation to share power
You understand the value of participation done well — and the harm when it isn't
You want to connect with others doing this work
You know participation is a long-term approach, not a one-off project
who it's for
why it mattersShifting power — not ticking boxes.
Participation, co-production and lived experience are terms increasingly used across the voluntary and public sector - but too often they're just buzzwords for tokenistic, extractive ways of ticking a box to say communities have been involved, when they haven't. Tokenism doesn't disrupt inequality; it deepens it, and further alienates people already excluded.
Instead, many organisations need a cultural shift towards really listening to people, understanding what's already working in communities, and using that to change how decisions get made. Many places are already doing this, and are participatory through-and-through — but we don't have many spaces to learn from this good practice, or work through challenges to get there.
Shift Circle is a response to that.
How it worksPersonal, organisational and collective development.
Each Shift Circle brings together around 6 peers online for 9 months. You start with a group co-design session, then meet for a full morning each month — each time bringing live challenges from your work.
Through Action Learning and other facilitated peer learning processes you'll reflect on and deepen your participatory practice, learn from others' experiences to bring back to your organisation, and build collective wisdom and power around what equitable participation really looks like.
Each Shift Circle is selected carefully to have enough in common to connect and learn, and enough difference to challenge each other. People in each Shift Circle come from different sizes and types of organisation - charities, research institutes, arts & culture, health & social care, education, and the public sector.
Shift Circle has also been run successfully within a single organisation or an existing network — get in touch if you'd like to explore that together.
How it worksShift Circle blends personal, organisational and collective development
The learning journeyA journey that builds across eight sessions
The programme isn't a set of standalone sessions — it's a journey. As trust grows, the focus of your learning widens: from your own practice, to what you change in your organisation, to ripple effects across the wider system. Each shift is introduced in turn, then continues as a thread through to the end and your continued development beyond the programme.
Session by session
Session 1
Co-creating learning culture
Setting intentions, co-creating our learning culture, and establishing group rapport & trust.
Session 2
Deep questioning
Getting comfortable with reflective practice, and unlocking thinking on sticky issues.
Session 3
Reflective practice
Learning from past experiences, and deepening trust & reflection.
Session 4
Multiple perspectives
Learning from multiple perspectives and experiences across the group.
Session 5
Applications so far
Learning from what we're applying so far, and where it's taking us.
Session 6
Breaking out of binary thinking
Navigating wider themes, and picking apart binary thinking.
Session 7
Open learning space
An open session to use however the group wants.
Session 8
Ripple effects
Reflecting on the ripple effects of our learning, and planning ongoing development in practice.
Some of the methods we'll use
A relational approach to sliding scale pricing
Together we'll agree an amount that's accessible, reflects your organisation's resources, and honours your commitment — while keeping the programme self-sustaining without relying on grants.
Under £100k turnover
£100–£500
Grassroots, volunteer-led groups or independent practitioners.
Up to £500k turnover
£500–£1,000
Small charities with some funding.
£500k–£1m turnover
£1,000–£1,500
Mid-sized organisations with salaried staff.
Over £1m turnover
£1,500–£3,000
Larger or national organisations and public bodies.
If these pricing bands don't feel right, let me know: a contribution is required to show commitment to the work, but you won't be left to self-fund if your organisation won't cover it — I'll help you make the case for budget internally.
pricingMeet your facilitator
Theodora Cadbury
Hi, I'm Theo - a peer learning facilitator and participation consultant who's spent years developing participatory approaches with grassroots, national and international organisations. Because to shift power, we all need to learn to do things differently.
Shift Circle is an independent programme, run with advice and support from the Co-Production Collective at UCL.
The next Shift Circle begins in early 2027.
From July 2026
Expressions of Interest open
Recruitment is now open — get in touch to express interest.
To 20 September
Conversations
EOIs welcome; conversations with interested participants.
By 2 October
Groups confirmed
Groups and dates confirmed.
Early 2027
Circles begin
The next cohorts start, and run to autumn 2027.
Not sure yet? The community workshops (below) are a good way to get a feel for a Shift Circle while recruitment is open.
Next cohortCommunity workshopsNot ready for a full Circle? Start here…
A series of community workshops for anyone wanting to explore participation and shifting power together — whether you're curious about the next cohort or just want a way in. A good taster of how a Shift Circle feels.
[Add a little on what each workshop covers, who they're for, and the dates.] Running over summer 2026.
Join the next Shift CircleRegister your interest
Recruitment is relational — a first email/phone conversation and the chance to ask questions, then an Expression of Interest, a price proposal and an intro call.