Our Future Newsletter – June 2026

Read June’s newsletter below or download the PDF.

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Hello, We are so excited to share another update on the momentum for change in Grimsby, Rochdale and around the country. We were honoured to host the King’s visit to Grimsby, where he got a window into the change underway in the town. He visited Horizon Youth Zone and the CARE Hub, two historic buildings that have been brought back to life as beautiful, ambitious spaces for young people and as a community hub. Then to Grimsby Town FC’s Blundell Park, where he joined and participated in an Our Future working meeting. We were thrilled by his passion for and knowledge about the areas we are working on together, and his contributions to the discussions. In Rochdale, we launched Round Here, a borough-wide conversation inviting people to share their ideas, hopes and ambitions for the future. People can write ideas, vote on others, pin suggestions to a map or leave a voice note. It is already generating real energy across the borough. Give it a Go, the first pot of the Growing Together Fund, has now closed for applications and decision makers. It has exceeded our expectations with real excitement and interest in both opportunities. There is so much latent energy and ambition to contribute and build a hopeful future in the hometowns we love. Emily Bolton  CEO, Our Future

Welcoming His Majesty The King to Grimsby

On 11th June, His Majesty The King spent the day in Grimsby. We were honoured to host his visit and give him a window into the change underway in the town and the amazing people leading the change. The King visited Horizon Youth Zone and the CARE Hub on Victoria Street – two historic buildings brought back to life as beautiful, ambitious spaces at the heart of the town – before joining a working meeting at Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park. By the time the King arrived at Blundell Park, 50 citizens from across the town and from every sector had been working together for over an hour in a marquee by the side of the pitch. Despite the rain the space was buzzing, pin boards were covered in ideas, connections and contributions. The King immediately got involved in the discussions, showing a real passion for and expertise in housing, tree planting and green energy. He spent time at each of the five tables, getting into the detail of Grimsby’s big ambitions: 500 empty homes coming into community ownership, community energy growing a hundredfold, 10,000 trees, communities in every ward shaping their own future, a thriving town centre. He brought his own knowledge and examples to the conversations. People were blown away by his insight, engagement and generosity. We also presented the King with a Grimsby Town/Our Future Football Shirt with HM King Charles 3 on the back. Planning the day was a collective effort, embodying what makes this work so powerful. We are incredibly grateful to the fabulous teams at CARE, Horizon Youth Zone, Grimsby Town Football Club, Grimsby Garden Centre, Delilicious and Gary Davies Photography for getting stuck in and making the day work. It was a moment none of us will forget. This is great recognition of the progress made in the town and the leaders who are driving that change. The visit generated so much positivity and energy in the town. You can get a snapshot of that through the photos and some of the news articles below.

View Photos – His Majesty The King visits Grimsby

Stories of the day

There were many stories shared throughout His Majesty’s visit. Here’s just a small round-up showing some of the people, places and partnerships at the heart of the day.

The Royal Family The Royal Family’s own reflection on the visit. Read Post

BBC News The “alright darling?” moment that captured the warmth and personality of the day. Read Article

Grimsby Live The Scouts’ experience at Horizon Youth Zone and the lasting impact on young people. Read Article

The Mirror A deeper look at CARE Hub and Anne Bickerstaffe’s vision for dignity and support. Read Article

Grimsby Live Recap of The Royal Visit. His Majesty’s visit across Grimsby. Read Article

A Borough-Wide Conversation Is Happening Across Rochdale

We’re inviting people across Rochdale to be part of a borough-wide conversation about the future we want to create together. This is not about starting from scratch. It’s about building on the incredible work, relationships and ideas that already exist across the borough, and creating space for more people to help shape what comes next. One of the ways to get involved is through Round Here, a conversation hosted by For Generations to Come and the Our Future team. Whether you live, work or spend time in the borough, you can share your thoughts, fears and ideas by: – Writing your ideas, and voting on other – Pinning your suggestions to the map – Leaving us a voice note There continue to be opportunities to come together in person, explore what Rochdale could become, and discuss what it will take to get there. Meet Jet, Ben and Maddy out and about in the community, or join one of the Let’s Talk conversations – dates listed below! We are working with local organisations, community groups and residents to spread the word as widely as possible. The kindness, enthusiasm and team spirit behind this effort has been amazing. People have offered space at events, leaflet distribution, poster displays, online promotions, and to share information through their networks. We are always looking for new ways to engage people. If you have a creative idea we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch with Ben.

Image Credit: Mark Jolly, Rochdale Style Magazine

Join The Conversation

The Growing Together Fund. Built by Grimsby, For Grimsby.

The Growing Together Fund has been shaped by the people of Grimsby, for Grimsby.It grew out of Grimsby Together, a town-wide conversation that brought residents, community groups and partners together to identify shared priorities for the town’s future. The fund is one of the outcomes of that work, creating a new way to support local ideas, involve people across the town in decision-making, and turn shared priorities into action.The first funding pot, ‘Give it a Go’, generated huge interest, surpassing expectations for applications both for funding and Decision Makers. Decision Makers will be selected through a blind process to ensure a cross section of people from across the town are making decisions around which projects receive financial support. Successful projects will be announced in July, and we cannot wait to see these ideas brought to life. People will continue to be involved in developing future funding opportunities, exploring different approaches to decision-making and helping inform the process for future funding pots – ‘Strengthen & Grow’ and ‘Build for the Future’. ‘Strengthen & Grow’, will offer grants of up to £50,000 to support organisations to develop their ideas and ambitions. Community design sessions for this funding pot will take place in July. Later in the year, people will also work together to shape ‘Build for the Future’, a capital grants funding pot offering up to £360,000 for projects that will create lasting value for Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire. Community Design sessions about this programme are expected to take place in November. If you are keen to get involved please connect with us here: growingtogetherfund.org.uk

Visit the Growing Together Website

A Nation Of Neighbours

We’re so pleased to be part of A Nation of Neighbours, a new report from UCL Policy Lab and Demos exploring how communities can play a far greater role in shaping Britain’s future. The collection of essays makes a compelling case for a different approach – one that places greater trust in people and recognises the vital role communities play in creating stronger, more resilient places. Do have a read if you have a chance, there is such a fascinating range of ideas and inspiration and a good dose of hope. Our essay focuses on what we have learnt from working alongside people working to drive change in their hometowns over the last four years. People aren’t waiting for permission, they are already rolling up their sleeves to fix things. There isn’t an absence of energy and ideas but the infrastructure that helps people connect, collaborate and tuen those ideas into lasting change.

Image Credit: For Generations To Come May 2025 launch event

Read our essay Read the Building a Brighter Future Together essay that explains the social and financial infrastructure at the heart of the Our Future model. Read Essay

Read full report For more information about the Nation of Neighbours report click below. Nation of Neighbours Report

Home Wins

Home Wins is a growing network for people who care about a place – even if they no longer live there. It’s a way to stay connected, share your experience and help shape what happens next. Whether it’s making introductions, sharing ideas, opening doors, or supporting local projects, Home Wins gives people a way to back the places they love – wherever life has taken them. For more information or to join your local Home Wins network, please see below:

Rochdale Home Wins

Grimsby & NE Lincs

Inspiring us this month – Theatre In Flow, Rochdale

Some conversations leave you with a notebook full of ideas and Ben and Maddy’s recent visit to Theatre In Flow was one of them. Theatre In Flow is an organisation based in Rochdale that exists to champion marginalised voices. Through theatre, training and community-led programmes, the organisation amplifies unheard stories, challenges assumptions and discrimination and supports people facing some of life’s toughest challenges.  Since launching in 2020, Theatre In Flow have been working with people whose voices are not always part of the conversation. This includes women, people in recovery, minority communities and others facing difficult circumstances. Their work takes different forms. There are theatre projects, films, workshops and ongoing groups, alongside more informal spaces where people can come together. What stood out most was the way creativity is used as a tool for connection. “Sometimes creativity isn’t about a performance at the end” “It’s about creating spaces where people can connect, express themselves and feel part of something bigger.” – Liz Mytton, Creative Director. That philosophy runs through everything Theatre In Flow does. Whether supporting women to build confidence, helping people share experiences of recovery, or simply bringing people together around a table, the focus is on connection and belonging. Find out more

Sacha Romanovitch joins the Our Future Board

People who care deeply about the places they call home should have the power to shape what comes next. That’s the belief at the heart of Our Future’s work, and it’s why we’re delighted to welcome Sacha Romanovitch to our Board. Through her leadership of Grant Thornton and Fair4All Finance, Sacha has spent her career connecting business, government and social impact behind shared ambitions. She knows how to open doors and bring the right people to the table. That experience now supports the communities Our Future works alongside. What drew Sacha to Our Future is optimism. At a time when many people feel disconnected from the decisions that affect their lives, she believes creating opportunities for people to build relationships and take action in their communities has never been more important. As Sacha puts it: “We can wait for the world to happen to us, or we can happen to the world. What drew me to Our Future is the powerful belief that the people who know a place best should be the ones shaping its future. That is worth backing.” For Sacha, joining the Board comes at a moment when this work feels more important than ever: “It’s so easy to construct a narrative of despair and division, whereas actually, hope and possibility is what the world needs. That is what Our Future does.” Read More

Dates For Your Diary

Rochdale Let’s Talk About… – Our Homes – July – Our Story – September – Our Jobs – TBC Email ben@our-future.io for more information Round Here Borough-Wide Conversation – Join the conversation Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire Home Wins 4th August (online) – sign up here 1st October (in-person) – sign up here Email Crystal at crystal@our-future.io for more information

It has been another inspiring month and we feel very grateful for the people we are lucky enough to work alongside to drive this change. This work is all about bringing together inspired people who want to contribute to a hopeful future in this country. If you know someone who would enjoy hearing more about this work and getting involved, we’d love for you to share it with them. Thank you for being part of this with us. We’re excited for what comes next. Onwards, Emily.