New Constellations – Details, episodes & analysis

In January 2024 we embarked on a remarkable journey with a group of young people from all countries of the UK and many different backgrounds; a voyage of discovery into a future imagined by and for young people and future generations. Together with leaders from Paul Hamlyn Foundation and as part of Kinship Discovery, we explored the challenges facing young people in the UK today, the glimmers of hope we want to keep in our sights, and a beautiful future animated by seven kinds of love. Follow the crew’s journey and hear their story of the future they dream of in this powerful encounter.

Made by Jo Barratt with Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud and Gemma Mortensen. 

The wonderful young people whose voices you hear are Amira Hayat, Charli Ivy Perkins, Dami Fawehinmi, Ella Greenway, Felix Miller, Gage Oxley, Halima Ali, Jason Wong, Kaya Birch-Skerritt, Lilia Hakem, Nathan Holmes and Nirushan Sudarsan. Their fellow crew members on the journey were Cassie Robinson, Moira Sinclair, Jane Hamlyn and Olivia Gable of Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Special thanks to Ruth Ibegbuna and India Morgan of Northern Soul for so lovingly co-creating this journey with us.

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In September 2023, a small group of transformational leaders from across the world gathered deep in the Somerset countryside to go on a journey together. They came together in recognition that these times demand new kinds of leadership; that we must dream big, dig deep and act bravely. Through their journey, the group opened up to new and radically different possibilities and began to chart new courses towards bold dreams for the future. This audio piece tells the story of their journey in their own words.

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews and Lily Piachaud, Hrund Gunnsteinsdottir and Yasmin El Dabi

The wonderful crew who journeyed with us are Alice Jay, Cat Tully, Christine Lai, Jenna Nicholas, Jo Sparber, Kim Willis, Louis Butler, Manish Joshi, Mark Cridge, Mathieu Le Fevre, Mitya Savelau, Tara McGuinness and Tom Adeyoola.

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Shevaun Haviland is the Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, responsible for representing British business in front of government, and around the world. An optimist who believes in vision and the power of positive thinking, Shevaun shares her passion for business as a force for good, her fundamental belief in community, and her dreams of space travel.

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews and  Lily Piachaud.

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Transcript

Kersten has worked in local government for over 30 years, most recently as Chief Executive of Bradford Council and previously in the same role for the City of York. She has worked across the voluntary and community sector, education and central government. As she approaches retirement from her current role, Kersten talks to us about her transformational work in Bradford, improving the lives of everyone who lives there, and building a place to support people for years to come.

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews and  Lily Piachaud.

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Transcript

Gemma marks the winter solstice, and the tilt from darkness towards light, tucked up at home after a dawn foray into the Dartmoor squall. Reflecting on the year passing out and the one to come, she finds solace and encouragement in Six Ethical Maxims for a Marginally Livable Planet – the work of David Schenck and Larry R Churchill – one of the many wonderful things shared with New Constellations during our journeys (thank you Peter Macfadyen for this one). 

Made by Jo Barratt and Gemma Mortensen, with Iris Andrews and Lily Piachaud.

Music made for New Constellations by Art School Girlfriend.

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Transcription

‘Bold Dreams: A journey for courageous leaders’ brought together 17 people from all four countries of the UK, all innovating in service of people and communities. Spanning different generations, public and private sectors and many walks of life, the group explored their visions for flourishing futures and the transformation they want to contribute and commit to.

From the bright spring frosts of Kent to the first breaths of winter in the Peak District, the Bold Dreams crew followed the New Constellationsjourney in four stages throughout 2022, tracking and taking inspiration from the seasons of the year.

With thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for making this possible.  

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud and Hadeel Elshak.

https://newconstellations.co/listen/

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Transcript

Every year, Yale’s International Leadership Center brings together the World Fellows, a group of extraordinary leaders from every continent to explore how to address the most acute and complex challenges facing the world today.

In October 2022, New Constellations partnered with creative innovator, cultural entrepreneur and filmmaker Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir to design a bespoke journey for the 2022 World Fellows. During a residential retreat surrounded by the magical autumn colours of Sheffield Massachusetts, we explored how to connect with our InnSæi, what it means to be a transformational leader in times of radical uncertainty, and what stars or principles we can navigate by to build systems of human and planetary flourishing.

We are grateful to Emma Sky and the team at Yale, and the amazing group of 2022 World Fellows who joined us for this journey:  Andrei Kureichik (Belarus), Babatunde Omilola (Nigeria), Belva Devara (Indonesia), Fakhar Durrani (Pakistan), Huong Dang (Vietnam), Jad Maalouf (Lebanon), Kirsten Rulf (Germany), Kyriacos Koupparis (Cyprus), Manasi Subramaniam (India), Martin Inthamoussú (Uruguay), Minami Tsubouchi (Japan), Rufaro Mudimu (South Africa), Sahar Albazar (Egypt), Solangel Fernández (Peru), Vera D. Kwakofi (UK), Zhao Zhong (China).

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud and Hadeel Elshak.

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Transcript

Casper is a creator of spiritual infrastructure for the future, something he builds to contain love, belonging, beauty, solidarity, joy … and lots of singing. He sees our disconnection from our spirituality as one of the great challenges of the 21st Century. And has found over and over again that the people who he wants to be like are often people of deep faith, people willing to bet the whole board on a set of values that do not centre status, money, power and fame. He has recently co-founded The Nearness to help people connect more deeply with themselves, the world around them and people who they love. 

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud and Hadeel Elshak.

Music made for New Constellations by Art School Girlfriend.

Discover more at newconstellations.co, and join us on Instagram and Twitter @newconstells

Transcript

Surrounded by Samhain’s autumn leaves, Gemma recorded some reflections on the unseasonable warmth of this autumn, her recent conversations with leading thinkers, makers and doers across different sectors and what we can do to restore our lost connections.

Made by Jo Barratt and Gemma Mortensen, with Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud and Hadeel Elshak.

Music made for New Constellations by Art School Girlfriend.

Discover more at newconstellations.co, and join us on Instagram and Twitter @newconstells

What would a new economy that serves the future be, look and feel like? Who must be part of this new economy, and of making it happen? In September 2022, the funder collaborative Partners For A New Economy brought together 90 thinkers, funders and change-makers working in myriad ways across different places and systems to transform our economies. In this encounter you’ll hear dreams and reflections from some of those participants, painting a collective picture from an expanding field of a new economy that allows all people and nature to flourish, and how we might start building it.

Made by Jo Barratt with Gemma Mortensen, Iris Andrews, Lily Piachaud, Hadeel Elshak and Sophie McKechnie and featuring the voices of, amongst others, Alexander Barkawi, Fran Boait, Kelly Clark, Leslie Harroun, Indy Johar, Immy Kaur, Till Kellerhoff, Lynda Mannson, Melissa Mean, Johannes Nuutinen, Alastair Parvin, James Vaccaro.  

Episode transcript

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Find out more about Partners for a New Economy at www.p4ne.org