Our highlights of 2019
Today the charity releases its 2019 annual report. Our Chairman Jeremy Soames outlines his personal highlights from the year.
"The Churchill Fellowship is a remarkable scheme. It is a network of 3,700 current and active Fellows who are spearheading innovation and change." - Jeremy Soames, Chairman
The Churchill Fellowship offers a unique contribution to our national life. We fund UK citizens from all parts of society to travel the world in search of practical solutions for today’s most pressing problems.
In 2019 we awarded 150 Fellowships to 80 countries, where Fellows will research new approaches to current challenges such as rural employment, mental health, drug crime, air pollution and much more. When they return, we will help them to transform their findings into practical programmes for change across the UK.
To help Fellows turn their global insights into practical projects, we created the Activate Fund. This offers grants of £4,000-£20,000 in the crucial period when Fellows return and start to implement their findings. It is a pilot scheme and will yield valuable insights into how we can help Fellows to maximise their impact both locally and nationally.
We also launched three new award categories in response to emerging issues in society: Palliative and End of Life Care, Physical Activity for Healthier Lives, and Arts for the Built Environment. Each is supported by a strategic partnership with a field-leading organisation, which amplifies our reach and impact across UK sectors and communities.
The outstanding contribution that Fellows make to the nation was recognised last summer by the creation of an honorific for them. With the gracious approval of our patron, Her Majesty the Queen, Churchill Fellows can now use the initials ‘C.F.’ after their name. This is a mark of their lifelong Fellowship and their remarkable achievements throughout the UK.
The Churchill Fellowship is a remarkable scheme. It is a network of 3,700 current and active Fellows who are spearheading innovation and change in every area of society. It is also a living bridge of people and ideas between the UK and the wider world. Its relevance and value will continue to grow as our country evolves its global position.
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.