National Civic Alchemy Network

The National Civic Alchemy Network (NCAN) exists to transform how civic life is imagined, shaped, and lived by putting people, skills, culture, and place at the heart of public work. Civic Alchemy begins with ordinary ingredients; time, trust, creativity, and a willingness to take risk. The NCAN brings together, with care, the conditions for real change. It provides a unique platform for relational practice and research, bringing people together around shared purpose and staying open to what emerges. For us, alchemy is more than a metaphor: it is the connective tissue that gives civic work its strength. It is where practice meets policy, pedagogy meets place, and culture to create the conditions for dialogue to begin, not at the end of decision-making, but from the very start.

Too often, people are invited into civic processes only after strategies are written and models fixed. When this happens, lived experience is sidelined and harm is frequently produced. The Civic Alchemy Network exists precisely to address this gap. Through place‑focused, arts‑based methodologies, we connect communities with civic partners, local authorities, academia, and cultural organisations to co‑design work that builds agency, capability, and imagination. We support this practice through toolkits, training, mentorship, publications, webinars, collaborative funding bids, and shared learning spaces to strengthen civic culture by developing the skills, relationships, and confidence needed to shape change together, in place.

The Civic Alchemy Network exists to foster national collaborative, inclusive, and imaginative approaches in the public realm. It brings together community members, practitioners, partners, and organisations to codesign solutions to local challenges through creativity, dialogue, and shared responsibility.

The Network Partners

University of Derby

University of Derby supports communities, organisations, and partners to strengthen participation, local democracy, and civic leadership through innovative engagement and co-production approaches. Drawing on expertise in facilitation, social impact, and participatory practice, we help people work together to shape positive change in their communities. Our work includes developing and delivering training programmes, building grassroots capacity, and supporting community led action. We also lead and contribute to research engaged practice across the public realm, collaborating with partners from industry, higher education, and the civic sector to generate new insights and create lasting impact. Through Civic Alchemy leadership training, we equip individuals and organisations with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to drive meaningful social change.

University of East London

University of East London will advance research and innovation that explores the future of civic participation, democratic renewal, and the relationship between technology and society. Through academic research, reflective learning spaces, and methodological innovation workshops, they will help develop new approaches to addressing complex social and civic challenges. Their work supports organisations and communities to evaluate their impact, translate research and theory into practical action, and strengthen evidence informed decision making. Working collaboratively across sectors, they also champion community engagement, participatory methods, and local democracy, ensuring that people remain at the heart of shaping the future of their places and communities.

Socitm

Socitm supports digital transformation that is ethical, inclusive, and focused on delivering better outcomes for communities and public services. Through expertise in digital strategy, responsible technology, and public sector innovation, they help organisations navigate change and build the capabilities needed for the future. Their work provides access to local authority networks, digital maturity frameworks, and collaborative learning opportunities that strengthen organisational resilience and effectiveness. Socitm also co-design digital tools and solutions that support participatory governance, enabling communities and stakeholders to play a more active role in decision making and civic life.

Impera Analytics 

Impera Analytics work alongside councils, communities, and partners as a civic design and implementation partner, helping turn ambitious ideas into practical action. By translating constitutional principles, governance frameworks, and civic values into accessible tools, resources, and approaches, Impera support organisations to embed meaningful change in their work. Our team facilitates pilot projects, supports learning and evaluation, and helps measure the impact of relational and community centred approaches. Through this work, we strengthen communities of practice that are rooted in trust, shared purpose, and public legitimacy, fostering deeper connections between institutions and the people they serve.

To find out more about NCAN or to enquire about the network, please contact civic@derby.ac.uk