Catalyst Foundation: creative leadership course
Join our next cohort
Are you ready to help shape a more creative, collaborative, and equitable Gloucestershire?
We are opening applications for the autumn/winter Catalyst Foundation cohort, our creative leadership course for people who are already making a difference where they live and work.
Catalyst Foundation is for changemakers-agents from all walks of life who want to grow their confidence, their ideas and their collaborations. Whether you work in a community group, a business, the public sector, or none of these, the course helps you find your own way of leading, and supporting others to do the same. will help you unlock your own potential and learn how to help others shine. It draws on practice developed nationally as well as here in Gloucestershire, shaped with people who are doing this work every day.
Who is it for?
This is for you if people already turn to you to get things done, even if you would never call yourself a leader. If you bring people together, notice what your community needs, or quietly hold things together where you live or work, you belong here. Many of the people who join us are stepping into leadership development for the first time.
And if someone came to mind as you read that, a hidden leader who makes things happen but rarely puts themselves forward, please pass this on and encourage them to apply.
What makes Catalyst Foundation different?
We have spent six years designing this course with creative changemakers from across Gloucestershire, so it fits the lives and challenges of people here.
You choose to join us. The course is open to all - we start from a belief that leadership is already alive in communities, and our part is to help it grow.
Equity runs through everything, from the moment you apply. The course is free. We talk with you one to one before it starts to understand what you need, and we work with you to remove anything that might get in the way, whether that is travel, caring responsibilities, digital access or confidence.
We meet in person and online. You get time together in a room as well as the ease of joining some sessions from home.
Everyone takes part as a peer. This is a small, supported group where residents and professionals learn alongside each other, with no one sitting above anyone else.
Where does creativity come in?
Creativity is built into how we work together. You do not need to think of yourself as creative or arty to take part. We use storytelling, conversation and reflection to help people think differently and work well together. Participants tell us these ways of working keep them from burning out and make collaboration feel human.
The course
Catalyst Foundation runs from November 2026 and March 2027 across five sessions. We meet in person at the start and end, and online in between.
Session 1: Tuesday, 3rd November 2026 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (in person)
Session 2: Tuesday, 8th December 2026 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (online)
Session 3: Tuesday, 12th January 2027 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (online)
Session 4: Tuesday, 2nd February 2027 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (online)
Session 5: Tuesday, 2nd March 2027 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (in person)
How to join
We are asking for expressions of interest, and we will support anyone who is interested to apply. You will be invited to an online briefing to meet the course leader and ask any questions before you decide. [briefing date to confirm]
To register your interest or ask a question, email Tracey at tracey@creategloucestershire.co.uk