News & views - The Churchill Fellowship
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News & views

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Churchill Fellows work on the frontline of today’s crucial issues, developing new solutions based on global research and personal expertise. In this section you can find their latest views and advice, news, activities and events.

To connect with a Fellow, please go to their Profile page. To find related content, click the tag under each item below. To receive regular blogs and news, sign up at the foot of this page.

If you are a Fellow and would like to send us material for this section, please email communications@churchillfellowship.org to discuss what you have in mind.

Blogs & conversations

Building protection around children with experience of care

Through the first leg of his Fellowship in the USA, Grant Trainer explored what it means to protect and support children with experience of care. Drawing on learning from organisations in Albany, New York City, Brooklyn, and Seattle, he reflects on approaches that place children’s identity, dignity, and relationships at the heart of protection. He is now bringing this learning back to Scotland, where it is shaping his research into policing, care experience, and trauma-informed support, ahead of the next stage of his Fellowship in New Zealand.

By Grant Trainer, 3 September 2026

Blogs & conversations

Building protection around children with experience of care

Through the first leg of his Fellowship in the USA, Grant Trainer explored what it means to protect and support children with experience of care. Drawing on learning from organisations in Albany, New York City, Brooklyn, and Seattle, he reflects on approaches that place children’s identity, dignity, and relationships at the heart of protection. He is now bringing this learning back to Scotland, where it is shaping his research into policing, care experience, and trauma-informed support, ahead of the next stage of his Fellowship in New Zealand.

By Grant Trainer, 3 September 2026

Blogs & conversations

It takes a village: trauma-responsive communities are pivotal to addressing youth violence

Through her Churchill Fellowship, Ruth Oshikanlu explored youth violence as a public health and trauma crisis, rather than simply a criminal justice issue. Travelling to the USA and Australia, she learned from police officers, nurses, teachers, psychologists, community healers, young people, families, and Indigenous Elders about what it takes to build trauma-responsive systems. She is now using this learning to develop a Trauma-Responsive Community Network in her local borough, bringing together those who work with children and young people to create safer, more connected support.

By Ruth Oshikanlu, 27 August 2026

Blogs & conversations

In conversation with Melvin Hartley: Harnessing the power of spontaneous volunteers

We spoke to Melvin Hartley about how his Churchill Fellowship helped him put spontaneous volunteering into practice during the Covid pandemic and beyond. After travelling to the USA to explore how volunteers are organised in response to disasters, Melvin returned to the UK just as lockdown began and used his learning to coordinate community support in Hampshire. His Fellowship also helped shape HYPER (Hampshire Young People’s Emergency Response), showing how older teenagers can play an active role in emergency response.

By Melvin Hartley, 20 August 2026

News

New programme for 2027 Fellowships

This year, we’re delighted to introduce a brand-new Fellowship programme: Civic and democratic engagement. If you have an idea to strengthen democracy, civic participation, or community voice in the UK, this could be the opportunity for you. Applications open on 1 September, so now is a great time to explore our programmes and find the one that works best for your idea.

Blogs & conversations

Counting women, ending homelessness

Sarah Walters reflects on how her Churchill Fellowship learning from the USA and Canada continues to shape her work to end women’s homelessness in the UK. Her visits showed the power of gender-informed, trauma-aware services designed around women’s experiences, from specialist housing to support that helps women rebuild their lives. She shares how this learning informed a women-only respite hotel as part of Crisis at Christmas 2025, and how it continues to inspire change in services for women experiencing homelessness.

By Sarah Walters, 6 August 2026

Blogs & conversations

Counting women, ending homelessness

Sarah Walters reflects on how her Churchill Fellowship learning from the USA and Canada continues to shape her work to end women’s homelessness in the UK. Her visits showed the power of gender-informed, trauma-aware services designed around women’s experiences, from specialist housing to support that helps women rebuild their lives. She shares how this learning informed a women-only respite hotel as part of Crisis at Christmas 2025, and how it continues to inspire change in services for women experiencing homelessness.

By Sarah Walters, 6 August 2026

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