Could you be one of the Thrive 35?
Thrive 35 is our ‘sparks of hope’ initiative – a mission to find and profile 35 people who we predict will make the world a better place, by 2035.
You often hear people talking about being ‘on the right side of history’. This is about being on the right side of the future.
Please note: There is no ‘save’ function within our form. Please prepare your answers separately to copy and paste across when they are ready. We’d hate for anyone to lose their work!
Why we are building the Thrive 35
For far too long, many aspects of life in the UK, from our water systems to our public transport to our care systems have been stripped to nothing and sold off.
Things local communities used to take for granted (and usually access for little cost) – libraries, leisure centres, family information services – are fast fading into the past.
But all across the UK, are people who say ‘no’. People who won’t give up on the areas they live in and who have strong, thriving places firmly in their vision.
These individuals are either determined to retain and strengthen existing assets that will enable their local communities to thrive, OR come up with brilliant radical ways make the streets safer, help nature to thrive, bring together disparate communities, or improve public health.
And we think it’s high time their stories were made public, and celebrated.
Who can nominate?
Anyone. You can nominate someone and let them know,
Or put someone forward anonymously (we’ll tell them, and we’ll check they are happy to be put forward / that the information given us correct).
Self nominations are also more than welcome – we won’t reveal where the nominations came from when it comes to publishing the final list.
What is the Thrive 35?
A list of individuals making change happen, in places all over the UK. They are the people quietly re-wiring the existing systems around them. Who truly build pride in place.
The thinkers, dreamers and doers who have a strong vision of a thriving place in their minds, and who have taken bold steps towards making this a reality.
We are looking for people from every corner of the UK, who are challenging ‘things that are wrong’ in the places where they live – and building tangible solutions.
The Thrive 35 will be equally ranked, with no ‘1st’ or ‘35th’ place. We are looking for vibrant, varied stories that when put together, beam positivity, showcase the power of human determination and perhaps most importantly provide inspiration for the rest of us to follow their lead.
Specifically, we want to hear ABOUT people who…
- Are building fairness, equality, and the potential for all to thrive into the organisations, projects and structures they already live and work within.
- Have creating alternatives to existing systems and issues, that cause public harm, the loss of community wealth or that silence community voice. For example, co-operatives; community wealth building projects; greener products for everyday use, products or projects that improve health.
- Are driving challenging transformation within organisations – through culture change and positive leadership.
FOR EXAMPLE…
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Bold local councillors who’ve successfully campaigned for something for the public good, eg to return a council building to the community.
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People creating co-operatives and alternative, good businesses – eg care workers who come together to create a co-operative to run a care company themselves, with love and care at the heart of it.
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Social entrepreneurs creating / changing markets – eg someone redefining work placements to end them being just about access and privilege.
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People providing direct access to something ‘good’ – eg an individual who has started a food growing collective that is now supplying healthy local food to local schools.
We want to hear YOUR amazing, systems-challenging story. Anyone who is re-writing the future of the place around them can be nominated for the Thrive 35.
Criteria for entry
Nominees must have done at least one of the following:
- Reformed an institution from the inside out (or seriously challenged the status quo)
- Had a revolutionary idea that has helped or transformed the community around you
- Built a better alternative to ‘the way things are’ in your local area – improving the chances for nature to thrive or life for people in some way
- Helped a community to retain local wealth and assets (eg libraries, swimming pools) for the people in that place
- Fought against a system: and won (or really made some noise)
- Helped improve nature, people’s health or the lives of a specific group of people
- Built, invented or discovered something positive for your neighbourhood or locality, or humanity more widely
Anyone from England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland is eligible to enter.
Groups and collectives of people are welcome to put forward nominations (please do!) – we just ask you to represent the group’s story through the lens of 1 x individual.
What the judges will look for
Answers that can demonstrate proof of change through numbers in some way. A soaring vision, a clear ‘way of doing things differently’. That had led, or will lead to any of the following:
- Improved public health
- Improved community cohesion.
- Better local services.
- Improved lives.
- A reduction in inequality or injustice
- A better chance for nature to thrive.
- Cleaner air or cleaner water.
WHY THE THRIVE 35? WHY NOW?
The national news makes for pulse-quickening reading – and not in a good way. Daily, we give air time, column inches and our internal thoughts and capacity over to those who actively cause harm. People gaining wealth and power through extractive or morally bankrupt means. Who benefit from hammering our earth’s resources, widening inequalities and war.
At Centre For Thriving Places, we say: “in times of darkness – look for sparks of light. If you can join them together – you might just make a blaze.”
TELL US YOUR STORY!
Fill out our short nomination form below. Please remember: there is no ‘save’ function, so we recommend you prepare answers elsewhere to copy and paste across when you’re ready.