John Smith Trust

Fellowship Programmes

Our programmes give exceptional young professionals the chance to gain detailed insights into the values and ways of working of UK institutions. We facilitate open and honest discussion about the challenges our societies face, the solutions we’ve tried and what we’ve learned.

Wider Europe

Eligible countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
Our Fellowship Programmes are re-starting in 2023 after a hiatus since the pandemic. This year we are piloting a new format consisting of a 6-month hybrid programme with monthly online workshops followed by a shorter residential programme in the UK. This year’s cohort will combine Wider European and Central Asian Fellows.
Wider Europe 2019 Fellows with Baroness Smith at Downing Street
Central Asia 2019 Fellows at Lancaster House

Central Asia

Eligible countries are: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Our Fellowship Programmes are re-starting in 2023 after a hiatus since the pandemic. This year we are piloting a new format consisting of a 6-month hybrid programme with monthly online workshops followed by a shorter residential programme in the UK. This year’s cohort will combine Wider European and Central Asian Fellows.

Structure

Our 6-month hybrid programmes consist of monthly online discussions and workshops followed by a residential programme in the UK. As part of the residential programme, Fellows spend time in both Edinburgh and London. They discover first-hand how UK institutions function and what challenges are faced. The fellowship programme offers both a broad picture and an individual focus. They are structured around the following three pillars:

Core Programme

At a group level, Fellows participate in monthly online workshops, as well as in-person debates and visits with senior leaders and high-level experts during the residential programme. There are visits to the Scottish and UK Parliaments, to law courts, think tanks and social enterprises as well as meetings with senior politicians, civil servants, notable UK figures and grassroots activists. These opportunities of high-level access give Fellows unique insight into the UK’s political and civil society and the workings of UK institutions.

Action Plans

At an individual level, Fellows each work on their own action plan during the fellowship programme. The action plan is a piece of work or a project related to the Fellow’s own field of expertise which would be enhanced by UK experience and input. It should contribute to the positive future development of your society within one of our thematic areas: climate and sustainability; governance and justice; equality, diversity and inclusion. The action plan should be ambitious yet feasible to implement. It is developed and finalised during the programme as a result of one-to-one meetings with relevant UK experts and organisations. Fellows are required to formally report on the implementation of their plan at different stages after completion of the programme.

Leadership Skills

The fellowship programme also includes leadership skills development including debate and communications training. During the programme, Fellows have the opportunity to participate in media training with seasoned professionals and contribute to a formal public debate. They spend a weekend retreat exploring their own leadership styles and developing personal and professional skills for leading change with confidence.
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