Citizens UK founder Neil Jameson CBE tells his story

Citizens UK founder Neil Jameson CBE tells his story

Author: Caroline Diehl March 23, 2021 Duration: 48:01

Neil Jameson CBE is Founder of Citizens UK, the charity that inspired and successfully campaigned for the UK Living Wage. Setting up Citizens UK as his vehicle, Neil launched and grew the Community Organising movement across the UK, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds, from faith groups, schools, trade unions and community groups, to participate in massive grassroots assemblies, rallies and citizens’ actions.


In this podcast you’ll hear how Neil took advantage of a Churchill Fellowship to learn from the US model of Community Organising, including training with a young Obama; how Neil brought these ideas to the UK, how he set up and then massively scaled Citizens UK from an idea, to city-based actions in Bristol, and then to a highly influential UK-wide movement, brand, organisation and legacy.


Alongside a fascinating 30 year perspective of social action in the US and UK, Neil gives us great advice and insights during this podcast, across all the founder stages, from start-up to scale-up, engagement and impact, funding, campaigning, networking and team-building, through to stepping down as CEO, and an exciting possible new venture too. Be inspired!


Follow Neil Jameson:

Twitter: @NeilJamesonUK

Instagram: @NeilJamesonUK

Facebook: @Neil.Jameson.London


Follow Citizens UK:

Twitter: @CitizensUK

Instagram: @citizens.uk

Facebook: @CitizensUK


And if you can please donate to Citizens UK here.


Neil highlighted the special impact of two organisations on his founder journey:

The Barrow Cadbury Trust

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust's Churchill Fellowships.


Listen to Neil Jameson's founder story on the Social Founder Stories podcast, Episode 7 - on all podcast platforms via the links above or here. Enjoy, and please do send us your feedback. Sign up to the Social Founder Network newsletter here.

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Caroline Diehl hosts Social Founder Stories, a series of conversations that go beyond the typical business success narrative. Here, the focus is on the human engine behind social innovation-the founders who channel their entrepreneurial spirit into tackling cultural and societal issues. Each episode delves into the personal journeys of these leaders, exploring not just their strategies for creating measurable impact, but also the less-discussed realities: the moments of doubt, the logistical hurdles, and the resilience required to push through. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of how a passion evolves into a sustainable venture, and how challenges are reframed as opportunities for growth. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of society, business, and culture, offering a grounded look at what it truly takes to build an enterprise aimed at bettering our world. The discussions are candid and detailed, providing both inspiration and practical insight for anyone curious about the mechanics of change. Tune in for stories that highlight the creativity, drive, and profound humanity of those building a more thoughtful future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 10

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