May 2026 Fellows' update: Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer won the Innovator of the Year award at the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards, recognising his work pioneering the use of Eurasian otters in UK search and rescue.
By Mike Spencer, 19 May 2026
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.
May 2026 Fellows' update: Mike Spencer
Mike Spencer won the Innovator of the Year award at the Global Search & Rescue Excellence Awards, recognising his work pioneering the use of Eurasian otters in UK search and rescue.
By Mike Spencer, 19 May 2026
Redefining financial literacy and shaping policy
We spoke to Ali Zafar about how his Fellowship is shaping new approaches to financial education in the UK. After already founding LifeSmart, Ali used his Fellowship to explore why financial literacy remains low, learning from systems in Singapore, Vietnam, and Bali. His research has led to a new framework for understanding how financial capability develops, and has already informed updates to his work and contributions to UK policy discussions. Ali is now finalising his report and developing resources to share his findings across government, charities, and the private sector.
By Ali Zafar, 18 May 2026
May 2026 Fellows' update: Terri-Anne Hamer
Terri-Anne Hamer (CF 2025) featured on the Trauma Informed Consultancy Services (TICS) podcast, discussing parenting as a care-experienced mother and the relationship between trauma, healing, and family support.
By Terri-Anne Hamer, 15 May 2026
May 2026 Fellows' update: Bridget Nicholls
Bridget Nicholls (CF 2020) premiered Zombie Ant Fungus: The Chemistry of Control at the Royal Institution, a live interdisciplinary production inspired by her Churchill Fellowship travels.
By Bridget Nicholls, 10 May 2026
May 2026 Fellows' update: Jeff O'Loughlin
Jeff O’Loughlin (CF 2025) presented his Churchill Fellowship research at the Palliative Care Congress in Brighton, exploring a stage-based framework for psychosocial support in assisted dying in the UK.
By Jeff O'Loughlin, 8 May 2026
The shared legacy supporting kinship carers
We spoke to Lucy Peake, Churchill Fellow and CEO of Kinship, about how her Fellowship is shaping support for kinship carers in the UK. Travelling to the USA, she explored kinship navigator programmes and found strong parallels with Kinship Connected, the support model developed by her organisation. Her learning is now informing new trials and partnerships, with the aim of building stronger evidence and securing long-term investment in kinship care – helping to shape a more consistent, better-supported system for kinship families.
By Lucy Peake, 30 April 2026
April 2026 Fellows' update: Arlene Holmes-Henderson
Arlene Holmes-Henderson (CF 2013) has been awarded the Classical Association Prize 2026 in recognition of her success in widening access to the study of classical subjects in schools, universities, museums, prisons and communities.
By Arlene Holmes-Henderson, 30 April 2026
April 2026 Fellows' update: Nina Smith
Nina Smith (2023) spoke at Westminster Insight’s Delivering RSHE in Schools conference, sharing learning on supporting staff to deliver relationships, sex and health education.
By Nina Smith, 30 April 2026
April 2026 Fellows' update: Darrel Ashford Smith
Darryl Ashford-Smith (CF 2023) was interviewed for the publication, Fire, with his business partner Lee Newman about their working partnership, UK Emergency Robotics Responders Org (UKERRO) and their work with drones. The pair hosted their second expo for the Emergency Responders industry in Greater Manchester at the end of April.
By Darryl Ashford-Smith, 29 April 2026
April 2026 Fellows' update: Jemima Lovatt
Jemima Lovatt (CF 2025) was published by the UK Environmental Law Association with an article exploring environmental law, coastal protection, and community rights in Goa and Karnataka.
By Jemima Lovatt, 29 April 2026
April 2026 Fellows' update: Jemima Lovatt
Jemima Lovatt (CF 2025) was published by the UK Environmental Law Association with an article exploring environmental law, coastal protection, and community rights in Goa and Karnataka.
By Jemima Lovatt, 29 April 2026