911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

Participants of Agents of Change, 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s supportive capacity building programme, celebrated their achievement at an evening celebration with friends, family, and the local community.

Open to changemaking women who live or work in Hammersmith and Fulham and North Kensington, Agents of Change is a free programme of workshops designed to support local women who care about their community and want to be involved in making positive changes. Confidence and grand plans aren’t required, just curiosity, commitment and the courage to show up – which these fifteen women had in spades. 

We’re not waiting for change. We’re making it happen. The Agents of Change programme gave us the tools, the support, and the confidence to turn our ideas into action. When you bring like-minded people into one space, shared vision becomes real impact. Manon Agents of Change graduate

This cohort of Agents all come from a range of backgrounds, but all share a drive to boost their social impact within their community. The workshops served to build their support networks, lay the groundwork for meaningful connection in and outside of 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ, as well as building confidence and setting practical goals. 

Feedback from the Agents has been positive, with Stefania saying that the programme "brought together such lovely people, created meaningful connections and left me feeling motivated and more confident to make a positive difference", while Nyasha fed back that "it has given me the confidence to grow not only as a mum, but as an individual, teaching me to value myself, prioritise my own wellbeing, and believe in the strength I have to create meaningful, positive change in my community."

Meanwhile, this year’s programme would not have been possible without the members of the 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ community who volunteered their time to run sessions.

Sara El Koussa, a postgraduate student at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ Business School and one of the workshop facilitators for the programme said that “it was inspiring to see the participants not only reflect on the kind of impact they want to have in their communities but also think about how they can support one another in achieving it. For me, it felt less like delivering a workshop and more like being part of a shared honest, learning moment, which made it both meaningful and enjoyable.” 

Stephanie Powell, Community Collaboration Lead at the School of Public Health, also led a workshop, and said that "being involved in the Agents of Change programme has been one of the highlights of my time at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ. The Agents approached every discussion and activity with an energy and openness that was a privilege to be a part of and will continue to inspire me. The whole team at The Invention Rooms provided exceptional materials to work from and wraparound support. I look forward to maintaining a link to the network and hearing what's next for everyone involved!"

This cohort of Agents should be extremely proud of all that they’ve achieved over the course of this programme. It’s been wonderful to see them grow in confidence, form long-lasting connections, and to hear more about their plans for changemaking. Farial Missi Senior Community Partnerships and Engagement Manager

As always, running the Agents of Change programme has been a great experience for the Public and Community Engagement Team. Samuel Lambert-Dale, Community Engagement Officer and co-ordinator of the programme said that "it has been a privilege to be involved in the 2026 Agents of Change programme. It was amazing to support the delivery of the workshops, and the celebration event was so impactful, really bringing the Agents together. I look forward to what 2027 will bring."

The graduates are now officially part of the wider Agents of Change Network, which offering ongoing and exclusive access to development and networking opportunities at 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ.  

So, what’s next for the programme?

The free Agents of Change programme will return for a new cohort in early 2027. Meanwhile, current members will have access to a Development Day conference in the summer, which will offer further opportunities to develop their changemaking skills. 

If you’re an 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ staff member or student wanting to know more about getting involved with the programme, then you can click here to join the Societal Engagement newsletter for updates on opportunities to facilitate or present at upcoming Agents of Change events. 

And if you’re a community member wanting to become an Agent yourself, click here to subscribe to the White City community newsletter to be the first to know when we open applications for 2027, or click here to join the Agents of Change network mailing list.