The team at People’s Voice Media are very excited about the prospect of working with Agora Koln in Cologne again. This project about civic participation is funded by the Cultural Bridge Fund which enables nonprofit organisations from the UK and Germany to connect by sharing knowledge and practice. 

Drawing on case studies from a revitalised neighbourhood public space in Cologne, Germany and a publicly owned community centre in Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, this project investigates the motivations and challenges experienced by individuals engaged in civic initiatives. By comparing these distinct contexts – urban and rural – the project seeks to identify shared values and generate insights into participation, belonging, and the impact of collective action.

The research will explore the factors motivating civic engagement, strategies for sustaining involvement, and the barriers participants face, with particular attention to interactions with local authorities.

It will give us a fabulous opportunity to continue our research into volunteering and dig deep into why civic participation matters to people.

We’ll use People’s Voice Media’s Community Reporting methods to train participants in how to collect stories from peers in an ethical and non-extractive way and share them digitally. They’ll interview individuals, record audio, take photos, and collaborate with those involved. Through online meetings, participants will share their findings and there will be a chance to meet in person when three delegates from each community will visit one another, tour the sites, and share their thoughts about their own experience of civic participation. During the year, this hybrid and international project will link both communities, amplify their voices, and demonstrate the impact of civic engagement on places and people.

The fund empowers ‘hands across the sea’ partnerships where together nonprofit organisations can co-produce, co-design, share skills, knowledge and practice. We are so excited to get started – watch this space for updates!

We have come to the end of the journey for our Amplifying Voices project, but as one participant so powerfully said, “this is not the destination, this is a stop on the journey.” Issac Samuels reflects on what the programme and its participants have achieved so far, and looks forward to the next steps.

From the very beginning, Amplifying Voices was more than just a programme. It was about creating space: space to be heard, to be seen, and to bring together racialised individuals committed to social justice and community change. Led by Isaac Samuels and Cecily Henry, the programme supported participants to develop their skills and knowledge in community reporting, while grounding their work in real-life issues affecting their communities.

Building a community of changemakers

We had over 70 applicants for the Amplifying Voices programme, which was a year-long journey of support for changemakers from Global Majority communities. The people taking part received training in digital storytelling, facilitation, and story curation, but crucially became part of a close-knit community – a diverse group of individuals united by a shared commitment to change. What stood out most was the sense of connection. Alongside their learning, the participants on Amplifying Voices supported each other, collaborated, and created lasting bonds that will continue far beyond the programme.

I came for the training, but I’m leaving with a community.

Rooted in real stories

The Amplifying Voices changemakers quickly put their new skills into action to support the causes that were important to them. Across the programme, participants led powerful grassroots projects tackling issues such as:

• Health inequalities within racialised communities
• Suicide prevention and mental health awareness
• Elevating the voices of carers from racialised backgrounds

Each project reflected lived experience, shaped by those closest to the challenges—and the solutions.

For the first time, I felt like my story wasn’t just valid – it was necessary.

Learning to amplify

Through the programme, participants developed practical skills in digital Community Reporting. These tools enabled them to:

• Change perceptions through storytelling
• Amplify messages that matter at a local level
• Build confidence in sharing their voices

As well as these valuable and effective strategies for change, what also emerged was a collective sense of purpose.

We’re not just telling stories. We’re shifting narratives that have been ignored for too long.

What we learned

This journey also highlighted important truths. Many racialised individuals are already doing vital work in their communities, but often without the support they need. This lack of support carries both emotional and practical impacts, making their work even more challenging.

We carry so much. Not just our work, but our communities. That weight isn’t always recognised.

For People’s Voice Media as an organisation, there was a lot of valuable learning too. The programme reinforced the importance of:

• Creating space for community care and wellbeing
• Recognising the emotional labour behind grassroots work
• Supporting individuals not just as changemakers, but as people

And perhaps most importantly, we learned that the path is not always easy.

Passion gets you started, but support is what keeps you going.

Looking ahead

While this chapter of Amplifying Voices is coming to a close, its impact continues. Rather than seeing this as an end point, we are using it as a moment to pause, reflect, and carry forward everything that has been built. The stories shared, the skills developed, and the connections formed will continue to grow, evolve, and shape what comes next.

Your thoughts

We’d love to hear from you:

• What does “amplifying voices” mean to you?
• How can we better support grassroots changemakers in our communities?
• What stories do you think still need to be heard?

This work was generously supported by The National Lottery Community Fund – thank you! You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We were absolutely delighted to receive this update last week from our friends at The Equality Trust in Birmingham. People’s Voice Media have been working with the Equality Trust for the past few years to help them introduce lived experience storytelling into their work. We have trained members of the Equality Trust team so that they can deliver their own Community Reporter training. In just over 3 years, there have been a total 5 cohorts of Community Reporters, each looking at different topics focused on the realities of socio-economic inequality and aiming to impact the implementation of the Socio-economic Duty. The blog below explores the work of the most recent group of Birmingham Community Reporters, who began their project in August 2025. They recently held a workshop and film screening at the Midlands Arts Centre to share the insights they have learned from speaking to residents about their lived experiences of life in Birmingham. The event brought together residents, cultural leaders and artists to discuss how to reimagine “Brum without Barriers”. Senior Project Officer Charlie McNeill tells us more…

The Birmingham based Community Reporters on this Equality Trust project chose to look into how different experiences of accessing Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Recreation in the city can help us better understand the city’s changing landscape through a period of severe service cuts and loss of community assets, and how this impacts people from different socio-economic backgrounds.

They really wanted to be positive about the city and this was represented well in the finished film, whilst being pragmatic and honest about the challenges we are facing.

Our mobilisation event brought together some brilliant Brummies from across the city and its power spectrum, to reimagine a Brum without Barriers. We had a great day commiting to our own changes and the power we’re each going to step into to disrupt for a better city where everyone is included and able to enjoy the great wealth of culture we have to share. You can read more about the event on the Equality Trust blog.

Already this has created funding opportunities for arts activities in usually neglected parts of the city, potential for some new academic research, and has created connections between creatives to uplift queer and other marginalised voices on local community radio.

The Community Reporters Arash, Jennifer and Alev have really enjoyed their experience on this project. We’re just in the wrapping up stages now and I’m making sure they all have strong connections to People’s Voice Media and the wider Community Reporter network so that they can go on to grow their skills, connections and get involved in future projects should they wish to.

Arash, Jennifer and Alev have created a really special project capturing a really important time for our city, making some firm friendships along the way. We’re really proud of them and incredibly grateful to have had the chance to have worked with them.

We hope you enjoy the film and would love to hear what it makes you think about – Does it challenge your perceptions of Birmingham? Can you relate to any of the experiences expressed by the storytellers? What would you change in your neighbourhood to help folks feel more welcome in what’s on?

*DEADLINE EXTENDED: Applications will now close on 23rd March*

People’s Voice Media is looking for new Trustees! Apply now to help us change the world, one story at a time.

We are looking to recruit 2–3 Trustees to join our existing Board. Trustees provide governance, strategic oversight, and support in achieving our goals, ensuring that we remain true to our values and mission.

We are particularly interested in Trustees with skills or expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• ✊🏾 Charity leadership
• 📡 Strategic communications
• 🧑🏽‍⚖️ Legal/Human resources
• 📈 Business development expertise and income generation (particularly for social enterprises/third sector organisations)
• 🗣️ Lived experiences (expertise that is drawn from your life experiences)

We would also be keen to recruit Trustees who:

• would like to progress onto a Chair role within 12 months of joining the Board
• would be happy to step into the role of vice chair
• could undertake Line management for Shared Leadership Team
• would join our Business Development sub-group

🕑 📆 Time Commitment: Roughly 1-2 days a quarter e.g. half a day for board meeting and prep, plus same for sub-group.

Read the attached document to learn more about People’s Voice Media, Community Reporting, and the Trustee role: https://buff.ly/AhERebZ

How to apply

You can apply by submitting:

• Up to 2 pages of A4 (send to Kath on kath@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk), or
• 5 minutes of video/audio (send to Kath on kath@peoplesvoicemedia.co.uk), or
• fill in a google application form here: https://buff.ly/PuB80ZL

by Monday 23rd March 2026 which answers the following questions:

• Why do you want to be a Trustee at People’s Voice Media?
• What do you hope to gain from your trusteeship?
• What do you hope to offer the Board and the organisation?

How else you can support us:

If being a Trustee isn’t right for you now, please share this with anyone who may be interested. We are keen to reach people outside our existing network who can bring new perspectives, ideas, and energy to our work. By joining us – or helping us connect with others – you can help ensure that the voices that are often overlooked are finally heard.

Together, we can amplify stories that matter, challenge inequities, and build a more just world. Be part of shaping the next 30 years of People’s Voice Media.

We are really proud to announce that our fantastic friend, colleague and leader Isaac Samuels OBE has been nominated for Disability Personality of the Year at the Empowerment Awards. Huge congratulations, Isaac!

The Empowerment Awards are Britain’s most inclusive awards that celebrate changemakers and trailblazers in the disability community. The final ceremony will take place at the Emirates Stadium on 20th March 2026.

Isaac says: “I’m still slightly stunned if I’m honest. It feels like a massive honour and a real moment to pause and reflect on the journey so far.”

“Being shortlisted means a lot because it recognises over 25 years of work alongside disabled people, communities, and partners across health and social care. Together we’ve pushed for co-production, challenged exclusion, supported suicide prevention, and worked to make sure people with lived experience genuinely share power in decisions that shape their lives.”

“Anyone who knows me knows this has never been about titles or awards. It has always been about people, relationships, and creating spaces where everyone feels heard, safe, and able to show up as themselves. Receiving an OBE in 2025 was already beyond anything I imagined, so being a finalist here genuinely knocked me sideways in the best possible way.”

The final stage now comes down to a public vote, so we want to spread the word and make sure Isaac gets recognised for their work.

If you would like to vote for Isaac, simply follow these steps:

• Go to: https://empowermentawards.org/voteforfinalist
• Sign in with your email
• Select ‘Disability Personality of the Year’
• Vote for Isaac Samuels!

Best of luck Isaac in the awards, the whole People’s Voice Media team are rooting for you!