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Emerging Leader Oxfordshire
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Emerging Leader Oxfordshire 

12 Sept 2023 - 11 Jun 2024

Supporting emerging leaders in Oxfordshire to build leadership potential, strengthen networks, and drive social change.

Free

Applications closed  Register for future updates

Programme information

The Emerging Leader Oxfordshire Programme is a fully funded leadership development journey designed for those based in Oxfordshire with three to six years' experience leading teams, projects or volunteers. The programme has a hybrid format, with both online and in-person elements.

Taking place between 12 Sept 2023 and 11 Jun 2024, the programme offers access to a wealth of leadership development interventions designed to help participants find their feet in leadership. The programme creates time, permission and space to enhance wellbeing, resilience and empathy, and has been specifically developed to respond to the challenges that social leaders are facing in Oxfordshire. Together, we aim to revitalise and strengthen social organisations in Oxfordshire to create a more resilient, innovative and connected local sector and community.

We are on a mission to democratise leadership, making development accessible to every social leader in the UK for a fair and equitable society. As part of this, we are strongly committed to supporting leaders from the Global Majority, and we actively encourage applications from people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Watch a recording of the Q&A webinar to find out more about the programme.

With special thanks to the programme funder, Humphrey Battcock for the opportunity to deliver this free programme in Oxfordshire.

Programme Detail
  • Hybrid format
  • 10 days' commitment
  • 3-6 years' experience
  • Free
Programme Features
  • 9-month programme
  • Online community
  • 25 places
  • Clore Social Fellowship

Programme partners

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We are proud to be partnering with Aspire Oxfordshire to deliver this unique programme in Oxfordshire, working closely with a local steering group whose members reflect the diversity and reach of the local sector - indicative of the impact we want the programmes to achieve. The steering group's role is to help shape the programme to make it as relevant and impactful for the social sector in Oxfordshire.

We are also fortunate enough to be working with two programme directors, local to Oxfordshire, who also support the development of the programmes and will lead all programme activities.

Meet our steering group and programme directors.

Eligibility criteria

3-6 years' leadership experience

This experience could be paid or voluntary, and can include leading teams, projects or volunteers in the Oxfordshire social sector.

Working for social purpose within Oxfordshire

This refers to organisations or freelance work with a social purpose based within Oxfordshire, including charities, social enterprises, CICs, CSR departments, etc.

Committed to diversity

We strongly encourage applications from the Global Majority, women, people working in small organisations, and those from across the Oxfordshire region.

Passionate about social change

Your dedication to self-improvement to drive positive social change is vital.

Reach your potential

This is a unique opportunity to develop into a resilient, well-networked leader, confident to implement meaningful change in society. To ensure effective collaboration, cohorts are limited to only 25 places.

What Our Previous Participants Say

Key dates

Application deadline

The application deadline is Monday 31 July 2023, at 11:59pm. Be sure to submit your application early as places are limited. Recording of the Q&A webinar to find out more on Thurs 29 Jun, 12:15-1:00pm.

Moderation decision

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by Friday 11 August 2023.

Programme dates

The programme will commence on Tuesday 12 September 2023. The programme is expected to draw to a close around Tuesday 11 June 2024. The programme handbook containing key dates can be downloaded here.

Outcomes

You will be guided to develop inspirational, empowering, courageous, focused, passionate and generous leadership capabilities - qualities essential to any effective leader. You will learn how and what these skills and behaviours look like in action, where your strengths and areas of improvement lie, and how you can develop and encourage them in yourselves and others.


Click on the buttons below to learn more about the expected programme outcomes.

The programme provides the skills and a supportive network to develop revitalised, agile and resilient leaders, to recover post-lockdown and manage through the cost of living crisis.

Boost your confidence in your leadership abilities. You'll become a self-actualised leader with the confidence and resilience to navigate the complexity, uncertainty, and change social leaders face throughout their career.

Become more effective in your leadership role, learning how to enable high-performance within your teams. This programme demonstrates how to inspire, resolve conflict, and set effective goals for truly outstanding work. You'll be able to position yourself as a trusted team leader, with a clear, concise vision.

Get to know yourself, your unique purpose and the impact you have on others better, to improve communication skills and relationships, and prevent burnout and anxiety for yourself and your teams.

Investing in relationships with your cohort enables you to create a joined-up vision that can inspire and motivate others. Past cohorts have found the support they receive from their peers during and after the programme essential in their journey to becoming a better leader. We encourage the development of strong relations with your peers for long lasting advice, guidance, and friendship.

Take on challenges you are currently facing in your organisation with practical, long-lasting solutions.

Our fellowship comprises a growing and diverse group of individuals who lead change in the social sector at varying levels. All of our fellows have the shared goal of building a better world, regardless of background.

We see the participants as catalysts for leadership development who, by programme end, will be encouraged and supported to pass on their learning to others, cascading leadership development into other organisations and sectors across Oxfordshire and beyond. They will also form strong peer bonds and networks, increasing organisational and sector resilience, and encouraging innovation and collaboration.

Application information

Programme fee

Thanks to the generous and kind support of the funder, Humphrey Battcock, we are able to offer this programme for free. This is part of our joint commitment to provide accessible skills and development training to all. It is a unique opportunity to access £2,200 worth of leadership skills and development training for free.

A small bursary is available for travel to in-person programme events for organisations or individuals unable to cover those costs. More information will be available to successful programme participants.  

Application guidance

We recommend for you to download and read the Application Guidance (Word document) to plan your answers in advance before completing the online application form, as the form will not save your answers, so you must complete it in one go. Join the Q&A webinar to find out more about the programme and ask questions of our team. Your manager is more than welcome to attend on Thurs 29 Jun, 12:15-1:00pm.

Programme elements

The programme will offer access to a wealth of leadership development interventions designed to help participants build the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to lead social change effectively.


Click on the buttons below to learn more about each element.

A four-week online learning course which uses a self-reflective model to guide participants through the core components of social leadership development. Participants will finish the programme with a long-term Leadership Development Plan, ready to make the most of the other elements of the programme. For more information on Discover, please click here.

The programme may change depending on the needs and skills identified. However, core modules include: Focused Strategist; Resilience; Courageous Changemaker; Passionate Advocate; Empowering Enabler; Leader As Coach; Generous Collaborator; Inspiring Communicator Imposter Syndrome; Building Networks for Social Change.

Learn from other people’s experience. The fireside chats are an opportunity to hear from a social leader about their own experience of leading and key lessons, failures and tips they learned along the way. By sharing these stories you will learn key leadership lessons. Learning days are a great opportunity for an immersive experience, deep diving into key content, and strengthening connections between participants.

Coaching is designed to provide you with the guidance and support to identify your personal and professional goals and get closer to reaching them.

Action learning is a tool designed for leaders to learn from other leaders. It uses the combined wisdom and skills of a diverse group of people to work through real situations they face in the workplace. Learn more about Action Learning in this video from our partners here.

This powerful personality profiling system provides a unique portrait of who you are, helping you increase your self-awareness, reveal hidden potential and help you understand how you behave under pressure. This includes a full-day training session.

A space will be created for leaders from the Global Majority to come together to discuss topics such as the impact of race in their work, areas of influence, kinship building, resilience, health and wellbeing, and career expansion.

The programme is heavily-steered by participants, and the change they want to create within their community. All cohorts will be brought together for the Peer Innovation Challenge, held as an in-person ‘Hackathon’, to work together towards the positive change they collectively seek to create.

Our methods

The programme learning will be guided by Clore Social Leadership’s Social Capabilities Framework and Leadership Development Model. Using our Leadership Development Model (below), you will learn how and what these skills and behaviours look like in action, where your strengths and areas of improvement lie, and how you can develop and encourage them in yourselves and others. Using our Social Capabilities Framework (below), you will be guided to develop inspirational, empowering, courageous, focused, passionate and generous leadership capabilities - qualities essential to any effective leader.

Know Yourself, Be Yourself, Look After Yourself

Leadership development must start with self-awareness. The most successful leaders critically assess their strengths, weaknesses, motivations and values. Leadership is tough, so it is also important to build physical and emotional resilience, and look after their own wellbeing so they can respond effectively to leadership challenges.

Click on the inner circles to find out more.

Assess Context

Social sector ‘systems’ are rapidly changing. We live in a dynamic world that is transforming our workplaces, politics, ethics and communities. To meet these demands, social leaders need to understand the complexities of changing systems. They must also be aware of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead to steer their teams and organisations, and make the most of what these changes offer.

Click on the inner circles to find out more.

Work With And Through Others

No leader exists or succeeds in isolation. Social skills and empathy are required to inspire, motivate and empower others, whilst respecting diversity and celebrating the power that difference brings. Working with and through others involves collaborating, forming partnerships, as well as inspiring and growing other leaders, all while making a positive social impact.

Click on the inner circles to find out more.

Social Leadership Capabilities Framework

 

Being a social and ethical leader require certain capabilities. The Social Leadership Capabilities Framework outlines the attributes, behaviours and skills required for successful social sector leadership. The Capabilities Framework illustrates how and what these skills and behaviours look like in action. Having a framework enables leaders to reflect and assess their current skills. It empowers them to identify leadership gaps and plan their personal and professional development.

 

Empowering Enabler

  • Empowers others to take on new challenges and training
  • Role model to others, pursues continuous self-development
  • Cultivates an environment where others can excel
  • Exhibits a growth mindset, with a readiness to learn
Click on another capability to find out more.

Focused Strategist

  • Continuously seeks organisational improvement for the people they serve
  • Reflective and utilises complex information
  • Delivers on outcomes
  • Resourceful and strategic, considers wider systems and context
Click on another capability to find out more.

Passionate Advocate

  • Cause passionate, committed to the mission and people they serve
  • Strong moral compass
  • Wide civic responsibility, engages in debate and activities
  • Looks within and beyond sector to find solutions for social change
Click on another capability to find out more.

Generous Collaborator

  • Establishes and grows collaborative partnerships and relationships
  • Generously shares information, assets and time
  • Builds trust through seeking and giving feedback
  • Invites inclusive contribution, valuing skills and knowledge, respecting diversity
Click on another capability to find out more.

Courageous Changemaker

  • Courageous and drives change
  • Responsible risk taker
  • Develops innovative solutions with and through others
  • Curious, has foresight and asks why
Click on another capability to find out more.

Inspirational Communicator

  • Relates to others with authenticity
  • Influential and confident
  • Clear expression of mission and values
  • Agile, able to modify approach and reframe based on feedback
Click on another capability to find out more.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you don’t need to have any particular academic or professional qualifications to take part in the programme. We know that leadership development training can be very difficult to access in the social sector, so try to make it accessible to those with minimal prior training. Your passion for and experience in the social sector are all you need to apply.

We classify the leadership experience required to meet the programme eligibility as professional, in-sector experience. This may have been accrued at different points throughout your career, at different organisations and can be paid or voluntary. Emerging leader applicants should be able to display at least three years of such experience. If your experience falls outside of these criteria, but you feel you are otherwise well suited for the programme, let us know why your experience is relevant and transferable in your application.

If you have any questions, please contact us. We aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours.

As a Clore Social Fellow, you will join a large network of social sector leaders from across the UK. Opportunities to connect with local fellows and continue learning will be supported, encouraged and facilitated wherever possible. We are always developing new programme offerings, and may have something of interest to you in the future, so keep in touch, and let us know if you have any ideas, or want to develop something with us for your organisation.

Better yourself, your team, and your organisation

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