THE
CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP AT 60
FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE
It is my absolute privilege to welcome you to this special gathering as we celebrate 60 remarkable years of the Churchill Fellowship. Each of you represents such an important part of our ongoing journey.
is your desire to make a difference. Through our anniversary we are not only marking 60 years of your innovative solutions but also celebrating your collective impact as an extraordinary community of changemakers.
Through our anniversary we are not only marking 60 years of your innovative solutions but also celebrating your collective impact as an extraordinary community of changemakers.
– Julia Weston
As I look back on our history, I am always struck by how the Fellowship’s programmes (previously known as categories) over the years, and your projects as Fellows, have reflected society’s changing needs. From addressing post-war reconstruction to tackling digital inequality, from environmental sustainability to social justice, your work has consistently responded to the issues that were of most concern to society at that time. The solutions you have developed, the communities you have transformed, and the wisdom you have shared constitute an extraordinary legacy.
There are Fellows from across the decades here today, your subjects, sectors and ideas are all very different but what unites you
Through your travels, you create strong connections worldwide, serving as exceptional ambassadors for the UK while making a profound difference to our society. The breadth of experience and depth of commitment represented in this room is humbling and gives me unwavering confidence in this country’s future – knowing that there are so many people each year who want to make life better for communities across the UK. Thank you for all that you do.
As we celebrate, let us also continue to raise our ambitions for the next 60 years, to adapt, innovate, and collaborate in service of a fairer and more compassionate society for us all.
Julia Weston, CEO
Julia at Connect & Inspire 2024
FROM OUR CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Churchill Fellowship. For six decades, we have had the honour of supporting over 6,000 exceptional changemakers.
As Chair of the Churchill Fellowship for nine years, and an Advisory Council member before that, I have witnessed the staggering impact you make as Fellows, transforming the lives of thousands of people throughout the nation. I am delighted to be able to celebrate with all of you here today as part of our 60th Anniversary.
I am often asked what makes the Churchill Fellowship different. I believe that so much of our success is that we choose you, our Fellows, for your individuality, passion and potential and your desire to make a difference, and that is unique amongst fellowship and scholarship programmes.
The Churchill Fellowship is living proof that great ideas can, and do, come from anyone, anywhere, at any time in their
lives. There is an indelible line that runs from that belief and activity to my grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill, whose conviction it was that passionate people could achieve extraordinary things with determination and the right support. It is wonderful to see this extraordinary ethos living on from year to year.
Sixty years on from when the charity was created as the living legacy of my grandfather, when so much has changed beyond recognition in the world, the simple act of faith that underpins the Churchill Fellowship – that an individual can make a big difference – has remained constant throughout.
As well as celebrating this milestone year and recognising your extraordinary work as a changemaker community, we are also looking to the future.
To commemorate our 60th Anniversary, we are launching our Activate Programme which is being supported through our Anniversary Appeal. Thank you so much to those
of you who have already donated so generously.
Through the Activate Programme we will award financial grants to enable you, to turn your brilliant ideas into action, further backing you to make a lasting difference in communities across the UK.
The Churchill Fellowship would not be what it is without the remarkable work of you, our Fellows, of that there is no doubt.
As we look ahead, I hope this anniversary will not only be a celebration, but a moment where our Fellows and friends help carry the Fellowship into its next chapter – supporting new ideas, deeper impact, and the changemakers of tomorrow.
The Hon Jeremy Soames
The Hon Jeremy Soames
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY
Fishmongers’ Hall, London, 24 September 2025
2.30PM ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION COURT DINING AND DRAWING ROOM
2.30–3.20PM RECEPTION
3.30PM AFTERNOON TEA BANQUETING HALL
4.00–4.30PM WELCOME AND SPEECHES
5.00PM
RECEPTION ENDS
I can honestly say my Fellowship changed my life by giving me opportunities and experiences I would never have had otherwise. Truly a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’.
– Marcus Erooga, CF 1991
To find out more about our work and our remarkable Fellows, visit churchillfellowship.org
A BRIEF HISTORY OF FISHMONGERS’ HALL
We are delighted to be holding our 60th anniversary celebration at Fishmongers’ Hall in London.
Many of you may already be familiar with Fishmongers’ Hall, the historic home of one of London’s ancient livery companies, renowned for its remarkable heritage and cultural significance. For others, this may offer an introduction to a landmark that has stood on the banks of the Thames for centuries, preserving traditions that date back to medieval times.
The present Hall, completed in 1834, stands as the ceremonial home of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, one of the City
of London’s Great Twelve Livery Companies. Designed by architect Henry Roberts in the neoclassical style, the building occupies a prominent position on the north bank of the Thames beside London Bridge. Its construction reflected the Company’s enduring role in the city’s commercial and civic life, as well as its commitment to charitable works and the traditions of the fishing trade.
The Hall houses an exceptional collection of art, silver, and artefacts that chart centuries of London’s maritime and mercantile history.
It has long been a venue for formal banquets, charitable events, and gatherings that bring together leaders from across the fishing industry and the wider community. Despite suffering damage during the Blitz, the Hall was carefully restored, ensuring that its historic character and ceremonial function remain intact. Today, it continues to serve as a working livery hall, blending centuries-old traditions with a modern commitment to service and philanthropy.
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS
The Churchill Fellowship was created in 1965 as the living legacy of Sir Winston Churchill for the nation. Our purpose is to fund remarkable people, from all backgrounds to source new solutions from around the world and improve critical issues affecting communities throughout the UK.
These inspiring individuals become our Fellows. And during this milestone year, we are celebrating the achievements of each and every one of you.
Anna Hope, CF 2018
As well as gathering at our anniversary teas across the UK to connect, reflect and celebrate the spirit of the community that defines the Churchill Fellowship, we are also marking our sixth decade with a series of initiatives.
OUR NEW INITIATIVE: THE ACTIVATE PROGRAMME
Our 60th year has seen the launch of our Anniversary Appeal to support our new extension to the Churchill Fellowship, the Activate Programme.
The programme is designed to help Fellows like you turn your Fellowship learning into practical action and create meaningful impact in communities across the UK. This could be through a range of activities from setting up a programme, to getting a project off the ground or launching a social enterprise. Some of you may remember the successful pilot we ran a few years ago and we are very pleased to be taking the Activate Programme to this next stage. Find out more on our website.
SHARING YOUR STORIES
Our Oral History Project captures the remarkable stories of our Fellows. Through this initiative, we are recording your journeys, reflections and experiences, creating a living history that will help us preserve the rich, diverse legacy of the Churchill Fellowship. You can listen to a selection of these stories on our website.
Through your stories we can inspire future Fellows, celebrating not only where we’ve been but also encouraging those who will continue this journey of discovery and impact for years to come.
BUILDING A LEGACY TOGETHER
We are delighted to have launched the Archive Project in partnership with the UK Philanthropy Archive at the University of Kent.
The project will professionally preserve and protect materials spanning our 60-year history, including Fellowship reports, event photos, oral histories, and more. These valuable records will be accessible to the public at the University of Kent’s Special Collections & Archives and eventually will also be available online as a digitised collection.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE
Please do continue to share your stories and updates with us, so we can keep the community informed and inspired by your achievements. Contact us at communications@ churchillfellowship.org
We know how powerful the stories of your experience and personal journey are in encouraging others to apply.
We are open for applications this year from 2 September 2025 to the 4 November 2025, and all the details of our programmes and how to apply are on our website. If you have a colleague, friend or family member who you think would be a great Fellow, please do encourage them to find out more.
My Churchill Fellowship gave, and continues to give me, a set of international perspectives to help shape my local practice. The privilege of getting the time and space to learn deeply, reflect and reframe my work remains one of the most influential times in my life.
– Rachael Loftus, CF 2011
THE LIVING LEGACY
It is well known that Sir Winston Churchill understood the power of potential. He believed that with the right support, anyone could achieve extraordinary feats and that their success and knowledge sharing would inspire and drive others in turn. It is this idea that forms the concept of his living legacy – the Churchill Fellowship.
First cohort of Fellows, 1966
£2.8 MILLION
On the 1st February 1965, two days after Churchill’s state funeral, an appeal was launched. By the summer, millions of British people had raised an initial £2.8m through house-to-house collections – the equivalent of approximately £60m today.
3 TRUSTS
Three Trusts were set up around the world, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Each Trust is independent of each other, but all remain true to the original ethos and have a similar approach.
3,280
APPLICATIONS
In 1966, the very first Churchill Fellowships were awarded in the UK to 66 remarkable individuals – selected from a colossal 3,280 applications. We are delighted that some Fellows from the inaugural cohort are taking part in our anniversary celebrations during the year.
6,000 FELLOWSHIPS
To date, over 6,000 Fellowships have been awarded from over 108,000 applications.
195 COUNTRIES
Fellows have visited every country around the world sharing knowledge, building connections and transforming the lives of thousands of people throughout the nation.
35 HYBRID FELLOWSHIPS
Since introducing the option to complete Fellowships through a mix of travel and online meetings, 31 people have completed a hybrid Fellowship, and a further 4 have completed theirs entirely online.
100% OF FELLOWS
In a recent survey, 100% of Fellows said they would recommend the Fellowship programme to others.
FIRSTS FOR THE UK
We know that as the result of Fellows’ work there have been many ‘firsts’. There are too many to mention here but they range from a project managing television coverage at Westminster to discovering new species including the Troglopedetes Churchillatus in Nepal.
What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?
–
Sir Winston Churchill
Fellowship application form, 1966
FELLOWS FROM ACROSS THE DECADES
As Fellows, since 1965, you have taken life-changing research journeys that continue to shape communities, policies and professions across the UK and beyond. The quotes shared here capture just a glimpse of the insight, impact and shared strength of this remarkable Fellowship community.
John Hornby, CF 1966
It is now almost 60 years since my Fellowship travels in North America. Other countries do things differently. They have novel approach to the same problems, and the travelling part of the Fellowship gave me the chance to study them and bring the results home. Among other things I travelled 13,000 miles on the Greyhound buses and every study I made enhanced my work at home. At that time and as much so today the Churchill name is revered. Wherever I went it opened so many doors.
Dinah Nichols, CF 1969
Travelling alone as a 25-year-old woman to Japan in 1969 was an initially terrifying but life-changing experience. I studied urban public transport in a crowded island similar to Great Britain, but nothing else was similar! I travelled the length and breadth of the country, immersed myself in a completely different culture and society, met talented and welcoming people and basically grew up. Thank you Churchill Fellowship.
Anthony Bravo, CF 1979
Aged 16, this Fellowship changed my life. Simple really.
Arwell Owen, CF 1982
My study was on multilingual broadcasting. Today many of the recommendations made to address
the language situation in Wales have been adopted. The red button, subtitles and voice dubbing are all available on S4C, the Welsh language broadcaster, newly established in 1982 when I was awarded my Fellowship.
Mandeep Sagoo, CF 1989
I was awarded my Fellowship in my gap year before university. I helped set up the expeditions section of the Portuguese version of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, which is still running.
That year was the 25th anniversary of the Churchill Fellowship and at the presentation ceremony medals were presented by the late Queen Elizabeth II. I was lucky enough to give the speech of thanks to Her Majesty at the age of 20 years old at the Guildhall. It has been a privilege since then to have been a Churchill Fellow and my career since has flourished.
Rachel Kearton, CF 1991
Adventurous expeditions with teenage girls from an inner-city school in Portsmouth and an ethnic Muslim youth group in Borneo were both filled with challenges, tears, denial, hysterical laughter and successes in equal measures. My Fellowship exposed me more to our
similarities than our differences, and this has influenced my career in policing ever since. Now, as the national police lead for Race, Religion and Belief, I consistently draw from that special time to influence government policy and policing practice.
Tiffany Coates, CF 1995
My Churchill Fellowship opened doors to me and has enabled me to be hugely influential in encouraging, inspiring and teaching other women that solo global travel is not only achievable but is also safe.
Awet Yohans, CF 2009
Having come to the UK as a refugee and grown up on a council estate, the Churchill Fellowship was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It broadened my horizons and gave me the confidence to continue pursuing a career in international development. And now, fifteen-years later, the experience has empowered me to start a Community Interest Company to serve people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Rick Hall, CF 2016
Can your life change in your sixties? Of course, especially if you are of an open learning mindset, and the opportunity arises. My Churchill Fellowship, to research creativity and STEM learning in India and South Korea, gave an impetus to my lifelong mission to nurture curiosity and creativity in young people. I have since gone on (in my seventies) to develop new projects where children are researchers into their responses to their local natural environment. My thanks to the Churchill Fellowship for their faith and support.
Jane Pepa, CF 2020
My Churchill Fellowship has given me the confidence to research, develop and test my own limits. It’s opened up possibilities across the globe I never envisaged, helped me forge connections and spread the message of Trauma Informed Practice across the Merseyside region to currently over 4,000 public service staff.
SHARED JOURNEYS, INDIVIDUAL STORIES
Each voice and image here represents a unique experience — connected by the transformative impact of the Churchill Fellowship.
Christine Lumsdon, CF 1969
I received my Fellowship in the days before the internet. Everyone I approached throughout the USA responded by return of post and enabled my travels to look at the rehabilitation programmes for returning injured service men (from Vietnam) to be a major influence on the rest of my career.
Emily Brothers, CF 1988
Being a Fellow in my early 20’s was life shaping, something that has stayed with me in the nearly forty years since in contributing to disability and wider equality policy and practice.
Sian Evans, CF 2011
My Fellowship was lifechanging because when others have faith in you and your abilities, you begin to have faith in yourself.
Thomas Horton, CF 2024
I’m only part-way through my Churchill Fellowship and it’s already proved to be an extraordinary experience with some real pinch-me moments.
Kay Jodrell, CF 2019
If you truly believe in something, never give up. Your passion may be just what the world needs.
Andrew Goldston, CF 2006
Nearly twenty years on and I still remember my Fellowship vividly. It remains one of the best times of my life. It’s still relevant in 2025 and I can see how it has application now as much as it did then. A unique opportunity, uniquely enjoyed.
Bob Blemmings, CF 2019
Being a Churchill Fellow means that I am connected to people across the UK who believe in positive change for everyone. Everyone in the Fellowship inspires me to seek to be better than I am, and to never accept that ‘things are just the way they are’. We can all affect change.
Nicole Oakley, CF 1966
Frank Boswell, CF 1966
Kerry Cressey, CF 2020
Ritvij Singh, CF 2023
CHANGING PROGRAMMES ACROSS THE DECADES
Over the years, Fellowship programmes have not only evolved with the times, but stood as a powerful reflection of society’s hopes, challenges, and values. They tell a story of progress shaped by the voices and concerns of the people they were created to serve.
Winston Churchill Memorial Trust established
The very first Fellowships were awarded
Workers employed in coal, oil and gas
UK Joins the European Economic Community
Decimalisation of British Currency
Trade union officials
Enactment of the Race Relations Act
First Mobile Phone Call in the UK
The creation of small businesses
Making a fresh start following redundancy
1,000th Fellowship awarded
Health and safety in the ports
Ship building and design
Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II becomes our Royal Patron
Librarians and archivists
Race Relations Act Strengthened
UK Unemployment Exceeds One Million
Mining and quarrying
Lowering of Voting Age to 18
Equal Pay Act Passed
Introduction of Section 28 Black Wednesday Financial Crisis
The control of infections diseases (AIDS etc.)
Conductors of brass bands
Big Bang Deregulation of Financial Markets
Miners' Strike Begins
Provision of care for ‘latchkey children’
Margaret Thatcher Becomes First Female Prime Minister
Women’s institute and townswomen guilds
Channel Tunnel Opens
Music and musicians
Multimedia aids to education
The training and retention of teachers
Launch of the iTunes Store
Caring for the elderly in hospital
Technicians continuing professional development
Rise of the Internet and Mobile Phones
Promoting parenting skills
Humane farming systems
Good Friday Agreement Signed
Churchill Fellowship key events
Fellowship programmes
Social history events
Coronation of King Charles III
Mental health community based approaches
King Charles III accepts Royal Patronage
Environment and sustainable living
London Hosts the Olympic Games
Communities that work
Financial Crisis Begins
Treatment and rehab of injuries for veterans
Young people
Civil Partnership Act Passed
Devolution in
Scotland and Wales
Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II grants use of post-nominal letters 'CF'
Migration – living well together
Brexit Referendum
Children and young people with experience of care
Prison and penal reform
Same-Sex Marriage Legalised in England and Wales
Adventure, exploration and leaders of expeditions
COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
Online and hybrid Fellowships introduced
Resilient economies and communities
BACK THE NEXT CHANGEMAKER
You are part of something extraordinary. The Churchill Fellowship provides so much more than international travel and learning. It’s a community. A shared commitment to learning, to action and to improving life across the UK.
Now that we’ve celebrated the journey – here’s how you can help write our next chapter.
Rebecca Amissah CF 2021, Anne-Marie Douglas CF 2017 and Laurelle Brown CF 2018 with guest Jordan Edwards, at the Churchill Fellowship Award Ceremony 2024
To celebrate our achievements, we have launched a £10 million Appeal to fund our next journey and introduce the Activate Programme – backing existing Fellows as they turn their insights into action. From launching social enterprises to scaling community programmes, the Activate Programme will put bold ideas to work, where they are needed most.
ACTIVATE A FELLOWSHIP
Your Fellowship changed your life. Now you can help play it forward.
The Churchill Fellowship’s genesis began with individual generosity. Sixty years on, it is our community that can help take it further. Through our 60th Anniversary Appeal, we are inviting Fellows to help support this next chapter.
HOW TO SUPPORT US
This is your Fellowship. This is your community. And this is your chance to help it grow.
If you are in a financial position to do so, please consider supporting our 60th Anniversary Appeal by:
Making a one-off donation. No gift is too small. Joining the new Fellowship Circle. Please contact us if you would like further details of this new supporters’ network. Leaving a Legacy that sustains future opportunities for Fellows.
Use the pledge card included in your brochure or email giving@churchillfellowship org. Your Fellowship made a difference. Now help drive what comes next.
Thank you for your support.
SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF FELLOWS
Scan to donate:
In a world full of ‘someone should’, it takes exploring what ‘could be’ in order to find solutions, set precedents and instigate change.
Christopher Mastricci, CF 2016
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES
As we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Churchill Fellowship, we reflect with pride on the remarkable legacy that has been built – not by any one individual, but by the collective contribution of thousands of Fellows, our supporters, Trustees, Advisory Council members and Partners over the decades. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment.
Here’s to the next chapter, to the launch of the Activate Programme and to each and every one of you who makes the Churchill Fellowship what it is.
The opportunity to join this inspirational community that genuinely cares, and generously gives, is such a privilege – thank you for helping me take the first steps to turn my ideas into change.
Sarah Yardley, CF 2024
To keep up to date with the work of fellow changemakers, visit churchillfellowship.org
Our Patron
His Majesty King Charles III
Our Board of Trustees
The Hon Jeremy Soames (Chair), James Williams
CVO DL (Vice-chair), Mark Damazer CBE (Chair Designate), Simon Bevan, Marina Brounger, Bharatti Crack, Maria Harrison CF, Lucy Parker CF, Catherine Smith, David Taylor-Smith MBE, and Susan Wood
Our Advisory Council
Lucy Parker CF (Chair), Phil Avery CF, Joanne Bosanquet MBE, Nicholas Danzinger CF, Yvonne Field OBE CF, Professor Carlene Firmin MBE CF, Lindsay Graham OBE CF, Professor Peter Liss CBE FRS, Juliet Lyon CBE, Liam McAleese CF, Anna Morrison CBE, Noel Nelson, Andrew Rowland OBE CF, Flora Soames, Steve Tyler, and Caroline Waters OBE
– Jeremy Soames, Chair of the Churchill Fellowship
