Chain Reaction

HomeEvent OverviewProgramme Day 1

Programme for Day One (17 November 2008)

Day One of Chain Reaction was a complete sell out - with over 700 people attending the event. This page features detail on the sessions from Day One, with useful links, notes, film footage and images for each session.

You can also download the programme for day one and the programme for day two

Registration & refreshments (08:30 - 09:30)

Day One of Chain Reaction started with registration and refreshments, with speed networking facilitated by Chris Grant of 14a Conversations
Blog post by Amy Sample Ward
Geraldine Blake, Head of Links UK talks to David Wilcox
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Welcome - David Robinson, Co-Founder of Community Links & Vice Chair of the Council on Social Action (09:30 - 09:40)

David Robinson, Co-Founder of Community Links and Vice Chair of the Prime Minister's Council on Social Action explains why we are here
See footage of David Robinson's introduction
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Keynote Address - Jeremy Gilley, Founder of Peace One Day (09:40 - 10:00)

Jeremy Gilley, Founder of Peace One Day, opened the Chain Reaction event with an account of his incredible journey to form Peace One Day
See an interview with Jeremy Gilley at Chain Reaction
Blog post by Amy Sample Ward
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Building the Chain Reaction Community (10:00 - 10:45)

Chris Grant of 14a Conversations facilitated the group networking session 'Building the Chain Reaction Community', where participants were asked to share their ideas, experiences and discuss the challenges that face each of use today.
See footage of Chris Grant at Chain Reaction

Slide Presentation
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Involving People in Social Action (11:00 - 12:15)

This panel conversation addressed the question of how do you get people involved in social action and then keep them involved?
Participants included:
Emily Beardsmore, Chair of the British Youth Council, Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Gibb Bulloch, Founder of Accenture Development Partnerships, Jane Tewson, Co-Founder of Comic Relief and Founder of Pilotlight, Trishna Shah, CharityFocus.org.
See footage of Hazel Blears at Chain Reaction
See footage of Trishna Shah at Chain Reaction (courtesy of Mammovies)

Jane Tewson Presentation
Notes from this session
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Collaborating for Social Change (11:00 - 12:30)

This practitioner discussion explored cross sector collaborations, and proposed a new model - collaborative commitments
Participants in this session:
Stephen Howard, Managing Director of Business in the Community (Chair), Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of Royal Mail Group, Brendon Riley, Chief Executive Office, IBM, Professor David Grayson, Professor of Social Responsibility at Cranfield Business School, David Robinson, Co-Founder of Community Links and Vice-Chair of the Council on Social Action
Download the CoSA paper Collaborative Commitments

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Tools for Social Innovation (11:00 - 12:30)

This practical workshop identified two vital techniques for social innovation and change:  Systems thinking & Social Innovation.  This workshop also showcased an online social innovation platform that participants can help develop. This session is led by the Disruptors
Network Post: Notes by Claire White
Slide Presentation
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Theatre for Social Change (11:00 - 12:15)

This session looked at how we can empower individuals, and particularly young people, to become leaders in society through creative and transformative ways. This session was led by Chris Gonzales, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) & Angèle Séguin, IDEA Québec – Théâtre des petites lanternes
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Lunchtime Workshop: Story Telling into Social Action

This storytelling session used the stories from young people to build social awareness and youth networks. This session was led by Michael David, IKM Emergent Project, Sri Lanka
David Wilcox Interviews Ralph at IKM Emergent Project
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

The Chain Reaction Interviews (12:30 - 13:30)

The Chain Interviews took place over lunch, with a variety of inspirational individuals from the UK and abroad acting first as interviewee and then as interviewer, to allow for changing perspective and the ongoing link from one individual to the next. This session is coordinated by NCVO. Participants included Deborah Parker, CEO, Progres Recruitment, Urmo Kubar, Director, Network of Estonian NGOs (NENO), and Ashley Sweetland, Director of Youth Strategy at Corporate Culture
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Communicating Social Change (13:30 - 14:45)

Sharing learning from leading practitioners in the field of communications, this session looked at the different communications tools for social change - how to inspire people and spread the word.
Participants in this session included: Carole Stone, Managing Director, YouGovStone (chair), Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC, Eugenie Harvey, Co-Founder of We Are What We Do, Jess Search, Chief Executive, Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation, Jelani Erskine, Designer & Contributor at Brixton's LIVE Magazine
See footage of Mark Thompson at Chain Reaction

Jess Search Presentation
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Educating for Social Change (13:30 - 14:45)

This practitioner conversation looked at practical ways of using education to engage young people in social action, and examined the existing models, the challenges and the opportunities
Participants in this session included: Wes Streeting, National President of NUS (Chair), Hetan Shah, Chief Executive, DEA, Huda Al Bander and Nick James Hagan, Edge Learner Forum, Maggie Farrar, National College for School Leadership, Ines Skuflic Horvat, Drama Studio Tirena

Notes from this session
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Networks for Social Entrepreneurs (13:30 - 14:45)

A speed networking-style session where you can find out what support is available to social entrepreneurs in the UK and abroad.
This session featured: Phil Callaghan, Head of Sustainable Development Dialogues, DEFRA, Ross Andrews, Head of Programme, The SEED Initiative, Nick Temple, The School of Social Entrepreneurs, plusAshoka, Social Enterprise Coalition, Red Ochre, Striding Out, Community Action Network, The Hub, i-genius, UnLtd, Network 2012, Social Innovation Exchange
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Scaling Up Your Project (13:30 - 14:45)

This practical session, took some of the ideas submitted throughout the event to looking at ways to scale them up and take them to the next level.
This session featured: David Thomlinson, Chief Executive, Accenture (chair), Simon Tucker, Associate Director, the Young Foundation's Launchpad, Chris Atwood, SalesForce Foundation, African Medical and Research Foundation
Network Post: Notes by Claire White
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Engaging with the Media (15:00 - 16:00)

This workshop examined the practicalities of engaging with the media; where to start; who to speak to; and ‘top tips’ for a good story. 
Experts in this session included: Steven Fine, Prospectus, Daniel Stacey, co-Editor of Bad Idea magazine and Natalie McDermott, On Road Media
See footage of Natalie McDermott at Chain Reaction
Notes from this session
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Can Entrepreneurs Change the World? (15:00 - 16:40)

Global Entrepreneurship Week is the first worldwide celebration of enterprise, which aims to unleash the enterprising ideas of young people across the globe. Inspired by the UK’s Enterprise Week, over 75 countries organised enterprise events that addressed some of society’s biggest issues, from economic development, to poverty reduction and climate change. This unique gathering of entrepreneurs, social activists, business leaders, young people, government ministers and policy-makers kick started a lively, informed and world-wide debate about the place of enterprise in driving social change and economic prosperity across the globe.
Participants in this session were: Peter Jones, Entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Tim Smit, Founder of the Eden Project, Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, James Caan, serial global entrepreneur and star of BBC’s Dragons’ Den, Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI, Sophie Tranchell, Chief Executive of Divine Chocolate, Lord Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for BERR, and The Prime Minister’s Global Fellows.

Blog post by Amy Sample Ward
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Technology and Social Change (15:00 - 16:30)

Popular technologies available via the web, mobile technology and gaming devices are increasingly being used to convene people around social action. This session brought pioneers of emerging technologies from the media, government and the third sector to explore how technology can accelerate the process of social action.
Participants included: Anna Maybank, Director, Social Innovation Camp, Steve Moore, Founder of Policy Unplugged and the 2gether Festival, Tom Loosemore, Head of 4iP, Alberto Nardelli, Chief Strategist, UnLtd World, Simon Doggett, Head of User Experience, Justgiving, Dominic Campbell, Managing Director of FutureGov, and founder of Enabled by Design
Blog post by Amy Sample Ward
Network Post - Notes by Claire White
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

A Giant Love Story(15:00 - 16:15)

Through the magic world of Icelandic legend and folklore, the workshop demonstrated how to nurture a deep commitment to nature, emotional intelligence and compassion for others. This session was led by: Ása Helga Ragnarsdóttir and Rannveig Thorkelsdóttir, Iceland Drama Education Association (IDEA)
Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Prime Minister Gordon Brown (16:40 - 17:00)

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivered a key note address, and then joined a panel discussion with Jane Tewson, Founder of Pilotlight and Co-Founder of Comic Relief, and Peter Jones, Entrepreneur and star of BBC's Dragon's Den. Chaired by David Robinson, Co-Founder of Community Links and Vice Chair of the Council on Social Action.
Blog post by Amy Sample Ward
See footage of panel debate
Link to Transcript of Gordon Brown's Speech
See footage of Gordon Brown's Speech below:

Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

Gathering together of ideas and perspectives on the day (17:00 - 17:45)

David Robinson and Chris Grant of 14a Conversations wrapped up the first day of Chain Reaction by inviting attendees to talk about their experiences, new connections and new ideas. SENSE Media showcased their short film about Day 1
View SENSE Media film (below)

Drinks Reception and Networking (17:45 - 19:00)

Let us know if you have any notes, pictures, film footage to add to this session - or just feed back your thoughts!

The Open Space

Throughout the day in the open space area, delegates created their own discussions and meetings, creating their own agendas. Here are some of the topics that were discussed: Potential Partnerships to help Young Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries...Social Marketing: Campaigning for Change...Open Ventures Challenge (marketing in aid of Cancer Research UK)...Global Business Network...A Voice for BME Communities...Social Marketing to Achieve Change...How to Involve EU Youth in Breaking Down Barriers...Little Leaders Get Help from Big Leaders...Group Hug...Youth Created Media...East London Social Enterprise Cluster...Helping Young People in London...Applying Ideas in Over Stretched Public Services...Interpersonal Relations...Volunteering Discussion...London Living for Young People...Educating Kids...Theatre for Change...











See what happened on Day Two - 18 November

Feedback your thoughts on Day 1 (back to top of page)