ThinkPlace UK

🌍 CSO Spotlight: Wote Youth Development Projects (WOYDEP) – Learning, Leading, Transforming As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Wellcome Trust to amplify community-led approaches to infectious disease, we're proud to shine a light on the inspiring work of Wote Youth Development Projects (WOYDEP) — a youth-led community-based organisation from Makueni County, Kenya. 👋 Introducing WOYDEP WOYDEP is driven by the mission to advocate for access to health services and respond to public health emergencies. They create safe spaces where young people can learn, share information, and foster wellness using youth-friendly health services. With a community library, meeting space, and strong peer support systems, WOYDEP equips youth to drive change at the grassroots level. 💡 Key Insights from Our Collaboration ➡️ Community Strength in Action: By securing buy-in from the county health management team, WOYDEP has expanded community support practices beyond TB to include all infectious diseases requiring long-term treatment. ➡️ Advocating for Health Equity: WOYDEP champions advocacy for increased domestic and global funding to fight TB — a disease that disproportionately impacts the poor and still kills 1.3 million people annually, including 214,000 children. ➡️ Agriculture and AMR: WOYDEP also highlights how practices in livestock production can drive antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and the urgent need to empower communities to respond. Through their participation in our Community of Practice (CoP), WOYDEP was inspired to take learnings from our discussions, specifically India’s Pradhan Mantri Murk Bharat Abhiyan and Nikshay Mitra initiatives, which support TB patients beyond biomedical treatment, and apply them locally. This has led to increased community dialogue and sensitised outpatient clinics. This shows how being a part of a CoP can translate into real-world impact, helping communities in the fight against infectious diseases. "When communities support each other, whether in private or as a collective, the spread of infectious disease is reduced — and dignity, compassion, and human rights to health are strengthened." - Executive Director of WOYDEP 💬 Curious to learn more about WOYDEP and other CSOs across India, Kenya, South Africa, and Thailand? Reach out to us at hellouk@thinkplace.org.uk Beenish Shayk 🍉 Georgia Bladon peter ng'ola #CommunityofPractice #AmplyingVoices #CSOs #HealthEquity #WellcomeTrust

🏟️ How might we accelerate the #mobility transition by leveraging Living Labs, such as Johan Cruijff ArenA, for Europe? 👕 “Gamification!” “Incentives!” “Rewards!” “Discounts!” “…A signed jersey from Taylor Swift” 📲 “The mother of all apps” 📊 “Smart, data-based, flexible management of public and private assets” 🤝 “Coordinate amongst transport hubs” “Coordinate between stadiums” 🧠 “Behaviour change for communities” “Behaviour change within institutions” 🔁 “Feedback mechanisms to enhance user experience” 🤖 ”Tech innovation” “AI” “autonomous vehicles” Convene #CleanTech #ClimateTech academics, investors, start-ups, and consultants from across the UK and Europe for an hour, and the ideas flow. Living Labs are a fantastic opportunity to co-create in real-world environments, situating human—and planet-centred design at the heart of research and innovation. In JC ArenA’s case, the stadium became a miniature city, an “emotional frying pan,” a laboratory for #behaviourchange and #ClimateTech pilots. At ThinkPlace we are transition designers - designing transitions for complex change. We partner with governments, coalitions, and communities to move from bold ambition to practical action. We’ll be sharing insights from these sessions and exploring the Living Labs concept in the coming weeks - get in touch if you’re interested in hearing more. #CambridgeCleantech #ClimatetechSupercluster #NemoScienceMuseum #ThinkPlace

💡 “We face a climate crisis, an economic crisis, and a security crisis. What we need now is cross-border collaboration to drive real systems change.” With those words, Sam Goodall, CEO of Cambridge Cleantech and co-founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, opened the first-ever Cleantech Venture Day & SuperCluster Innovation Forum at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam. At ThinkPlace UK, we were honoured to co-design and facilitate two sessions at the forum, bringing our expertise in transition design to help accelerate practical, collaborative solutions for: 🔌 City energy transformation, with the Johan Cruijff ArenA as a living lab and 🚲 Urban mobility breakthroughs, in partnership with APPM and EIT Urban Mobility. The opening ceremony was a powerful reminder of the momentum building across Europe, with contributions from: 🔹 Willem-Frederik (WF) Metzelaar from EIT Urban Mobility, who reminded us that the mobility transition is 70% technology, 30% behaviour—and that lasting change will require us to work on both fronts. 🔹 Mark Daly from BloombergNEF, on the role of climate data in unlocking investment 🔹 Sander, van Stiphout from JC ArenA, on turning stadiums into testbeds for city-wide transformation and the importance of engaging surrounding communities to drive #behaviourchange. These weren’t just panels—they were springboards for action. We brought city leaders, investors, startups, and systems thinkers into collaborative sessions designed to unlock partnerships, prototype solutions, and build the connective tissue of Europe’s climate tech ecosystem. We’ll be sharing insights from the sessions in the coming weeks—get in touch if you’re interested in hearing more or collaborating on what comes next. #CambridgeCleanTech #ClimateTechSupercluster #UrbanMobility #EnergyTransition #TransitionDesign #CleantechVentureDay #Amsterdam #ThinkPlace #ClimateInnovation #NEMOScienceMuseum Samantha Evans Sylvie Russell Camila Vila-Echague Hannah Scott

🔮 𝟸𝟶𝟺𝟶: “There will be no privately-owned vehicles and all vehicles will be circular”; “I see a seamless multi-modal transport network across Europe, including payment!”; “People will first think to walk, then to cycle, then to take shared transport”. Bold aspirations for a 2040 mobility transition, perhaps. But with the Climate Tech SuperCluster 🇳🇱 this week, I saw the creativity, expertise, and investment that make it possible - accelerating the mobility transition, enhancing our energy resilience, and stewarding in a #JustTransition. Some initial reflections: 🎯 Collaboration is key. This is an ecosystem effort that needs commitment, communication, and collective action from diverse actors. 🎯 Cross-sectoral learning is pivotal. See the convergence of #mobility and #energy innovations in V2G, smart grids, and renewable energy storage. 🎯 Infrastructure needs to match-pace with #ClimateTech #CleanTech entrepreneurs, not to forget #policy. Decisions need to be bold. 🎯 We can’t do this without engaging communities and diverse voices. Whether in urban planning, policy, or #tech design. This must be #inclusive growth. 🎯 And finally, success relies on Social and #BehaviourChange - from how we treat shared vehicles, to our choice of travel to a sports game, to how we power our homes. Technology alone cannot make this transition. I’m excited by the awesome potential I saw this week. Let’s keep the momentum going - reach out for more info or to join the conversation 💚 Cambridge Cleantech EIT Urban Mobility Johan Cruijff ArenA ThinkPlace UK NEMO Science Museum

I'm excited to head to Amsterdam next week to facilitate two sessions at ClimateTech Supercluster Venture Day! We’ll be diving into the future of urban mobility and city energy partnerships, asking big questions like: 🔹 How can stadium-scale innovation (like at Johan Cruijff ArenA) unlock decentralised, resilient energy systems for cities across Europe? 🔹 What’s needed to connect and scale breakthourgh mobility solutions that can shift the system? 🔹 Where are the real opportunities for collaboration and impact across the Climatetech ecosystem? I’ll be teaming up with brilliant folks from Johan Cruijff ArenA, APPM, Cambridge Cleantech, Sam Goodall and Jim Totty, and bringing a transition design lens from our team at ThinkPlace UK. The sessions are hands-on, interactive, and all about moving from ideas to action. If you’re there, let’s connect! Would love to hear what you’re working on. #ClimateTech #UrbanMobility #EnergyTransition #TransitionDesign #Supercluster #ThinkPlace #Amsterdam ThinkPlace Nina Terrey Samantha Evans Sylvie Russell

🌍 CSO Spotlight: Youth Lead Voices (YLV) – Empowering the Next Generation 🌍 As part of our ongoing Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Spotlights for the Wellcome Trust project on amplifying community voices, we're thrilled to highlight the inspiring work of Youth Lead Voices (YLV) — a national youth forum under the National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+). ✨ What is YLV? YLV is a youth-led initiative that creates safe spaces for young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) and LGBTQIA+ communities in India to connect, advocate, and lead change. They’re equipping young advocates with tools, knowledge, and peer support to make sure their voices are heard — locally and nationally. 💪 YLV Vision: That all YPLHIV and LGBTQIA+ individuals in India live healthy, dignified lives. 🎯 YLV Mission: To unite, empower, and uplift YPLHIV and LGBTQIA+ communities by creating safe spaces with dignity. Key Insights from Our Collaboration: 🧪 Inclusive Clinical Trials Inclusion of young people and marginalised groups across all stages of clinical trials ensures solutions are effective, scalable, and truly serve those most impacted. 🧬 Youth Engagement in AMR Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) needs a generational mindset shift. Engaging youth ensures long-term, sustainable impact. 🌐 Holistic Health = Greater Impact Addressing infectious diseases goes beyond the technical. YLV highlights the need to consider mental health, social inclusion, and climate change to truly reduce harm and uplift communities. 💬 Curious to learn more about YLV and our work with other CSOs across India, Thailand, South Africa and Kenya? Drop us a message at hellouk@thinkplace.org.uk Stay tuned for more #CSOSpotlights! #GlobalHealth #CommunityOfPractice #HIVAwareness #YouthLeadership #LGBTQIA+ #HealthEquity #PeerSupport #ThinkPlace #InclusiveInnovation #AMR #PublicHealth Wellcome Trust Georgia Bladon Beenish Shayk 🍉

AI in Public Services: Built for People, Not Just Efficiency At Studio Zao’s Innovation Forum, Mallory Durran (Nesta and DSIT), Rob Anderson (Centre for London), and Ali Salaman (Caution Your Blast Ltd) joined the conversation on how AI is shaping the public sector—not just in terms of technology, but in how it affects people’s lives, trust in government, and access to services. While AI offers potential, the real challenge is: How do we ensure it works for society, not just for systems? 🔍 Key Insights from the Discussion 🗳️ Trust Is the Biggest Barrier—But Also the Biggest Opportunity A live poll showed that while people are open to AI in public services, trust is conditional. There’s more confidence in AI handling routine tasks, but when it comes to making big decisions, public skepticism is high. 🚧 Bridging the Digital Divide AI adoption is wildly uneven across local governments. Some are experimenting with automation, while others are still running services on spreadsheets from the ‘90s. Without better digital infrastructure, AI will widen—not close—inequality gaps. ⚖️ Efficiency vs. Equity: AI’s Double-Edged Sword AI can make services faster, but speed is not the same as fairness. If systems are biased or inaccessible, automation only reinforces the problem. AI should be about empowering citizens, not just optimising bureaucracy. As Ali Salaman (Caution Your Blast Ltd) put it, "The best AI in public services should be like good old-fashioned service design—with AI sprinkled on top." 🤝 AI Works Best When It’s a Collective Effort Government, civil society, and communities must co-create AI solutions rather than working in isolation. The most effective AI applications are the ones designed with public engagement and ethical safeguards in place from the start. 📢 What’s Next? - How do we design AI in public services that people actually trust? - What role should communities play in shaping AI policies? - How do we ensure AI benefits those who need it most? The future of AI in government isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating systems that reflect public values, needs, and rights. #AI #PublicSector #DigitalEthics #TrustInTech #CivicEngagement #InnovationForGood

✨ Reflecting on an Inspiring Think Global Women Event ✨ On Friday, our Studio Director, Brittany Thurston, had the privilege of attending the Think Global Women Day at the Institute of Directors (IoD)—an energising space where inspiring women came together to explore leadership, courage, and navigating challenges on the global stage. 🌍💡 A highlight of the day was Sarah Rozenthuler’s powerful workshop on “Supercharged You: Leaning in to Difficult Conversations”—a topic that resonates deeply with many of us. We’ve all walked away from tricky conversations wishing we had handled them differently. But as Sarah shared, small shifts in behaviour can make a big difference: - Ground yourself: take your seat with confidence, making yourself fully available to listen. - Reflect before responding: helping the other person feel heard can shift the entire dynamic. - Acknowledge emotions: naming difficult feelings like anxiety or frustration can help settle them. - Call on your inner resources: understanding our energetic states can guide us to choose the right moment to speak up (or hold back). A huge thanks to Fiona Murchie and the Think Global Women team for sparking such important conversations. #ThinkGlobalWomen #WomenInLeadership #Accelerateaction #DifficultConversations #IWD2025 #CourageousConversations

✨ What does it take to build a truly mission-driven UK? On 6th February, ThinkPlace joined 45 government, business, NGOs, media, and civil society leaders to explore this question. Hosted by The Future Governance Forum (FGF) and Bridge Institute, the session was a powerful reminder that solving complex challenges requires collective leadership, bold ambition, and new ways of working. 🔹 Mission-driven government isn’t just an idea - it’s a shift in mindset. It’s about harnessing the full power of collaboration to create real, lasting impact. 🔹 Systems change is hard but not impossible. We need leadership that breaks silos, builds trust, and empowers diverse voices to co-design solutions. 🔹 Purpose must translate into action. Too often, mission statements stay just that: statements. What would it take to truly embed mission-thinking into policy, delivery, and impact? The insights from this discussion will be captured in an upcoming paper, so stay tuned! #MissionDrivenGovernment #FutureGovernance #Collaboration #SystemsChange

Cleantech Venture Day is going to #Amsterdam in April! Check out the information pack below to learn how you can apply to pitch. Deadline to apply is next Friday (March 7th), so make sure to start your application today. 🔗 Website link for more info and applying in comments 🔽 Sylvie Russell, Sam Goodall, Reiss Mason, Satyajit Mohanan, Camila Vila-Echague, ThinkPlace, Solar Impulse Foundation, Climate Tech SuperCluster, Hannah Scott, Roland Harwood, Charlotte Rogers #CVD #Innovation #ClimateTech #Pitching #Investment