Every year, Acumen’s Fellowship in the United Kingdom selects around 20 inspiring leaders who are committed to a lifelong journey of solving problems of poverty and creating a world based on dignity.

Our 2026 UK Acumen Fellows span diverse sectors, leadership roles, and organization types. From Dundee to Bristol, and across public, private, and social sectors, they are reimagining education, employment, health, and inclusive communities. Our Fellows are bold and lead with moral imagination: the humility to see the world as it is, and the audacity to imagine it as it could be.

Over the past year, these 19 Fellows came together to learn with and from one another through a series of workshops and immersive seminars. Now, they’ve graduated from the Fellowship and joined the Foundry, Acumen’s growing alumni community of more than 2,000 social innovators from around the world who continue to support and accompany one another on the lifelong journey of building change.

Join us in welcoming the newest members of the Acumen Foundry and learn how they’re transforming the world.

Creating inclusive communities through lived experience training

Alex is a social entrepreneur, author, and Co-Founder of Happy Smiles CIC, a disabled people-led organization that is doing disability differently through lived experience, access audits, employment support, and more. Alex holds a Master’s in Education, specializing in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion, and a PGCE in Secondary Education, with over a decade of teaching experience. His books help children, families, and professionals discuss disability, diversity, and inclusion, including topics such as dementia, depression, and disability.  

Transforming the lives of young people who have fallen through the gaps

Ali is the Chief Executive Officer of WeMindTheGap, a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of young people who have fallen through the gaps in society. With more than 28 years of leadership experience across the public sector, community, and charitable organizations, Ali has a proven track record in driving transformation and social system change. At WeMindTheGap, she leads the organization’s mission to end inequalities by building connections, creating opportunities, and empowering young people to achieve brighter futures.

Addressing poverty by developing agency

Andy is Co-Director of Signal, a social enterprise helping people and communities eliminate poverty by building agency and dignity across the UK. Through its Life-Mapping process, Signal enables individuals to set their own priorities, chart progress, and collectively influence local policy and public services. Andy has over 30 years’ experience in social innovation and community development and holds an MBA and a BSc in Management Psychology. He is passionate about transforming how systems listen, learn, and act with people.

Addressing food poverty on the island of Ireland

Anne is a Registered Nutritionist specializing in Public Health at Safefood, a public health body that promotes healthy eating and food safety across the island of Ireland. Anne leads initiatives tackling food poverty, including the Community Food Initiatives and Transform Your Trolley programs, and manages the All-island Food Poverty Network, bringing together a community of professionals with a common goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating food poverty.

Supporting young people to shape their futures

Azzees is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of 2-3 Degrees, a social enterprise that empowers young people to develop their confidence, skills, and influence. She has held senior leadership roles across the public sector, specializing in community engagement, strategic partnerships, and program delivery. Azzees is recognized for championing youth voice and driving innovative initiatives that support young people to shape their futures and the communities around them.

Using dance to drive social mobility

Christina is the Founder of Aim Sky High, a social enterprise that uses dance to drive social mobility for young people, and The Purpose Agency, a talent management company representing purpose-driven athletes and creators. Having grown up in Old Trafford, she combines lived experience with academic insight, writing her MA dissertation on social mobility through entrepreneurship and holding an MBA in Football Industries. Christina works to make women and young people from underrepresented communities visible, valued, and economically empowered.

Amplifying the voices of male survivors

Duncan founded We Are Survivors, the UK’s largest support organization for male victims and survivors. As a survivor himself, he has shaped government policy, influenced legislation, and raised awareness of boys’ and men’s needs in the UK and globally. His work spans the U.S. with CSAM survivors, New Zealand with First Nations communities, and Africa with men raped in war. Duncan also advises TV dramas, using his lived experience to drive change and amplify survivor voices. 

Brightening young lives across the region of Yorkshire

Emma is the Founder and CEO of children's charity SELFA.  She is deeply committed to rural charities and the impact they can make in local communities and beyond.  Emma studied for a diploma in Business and Finance at Ulster University before moving to Yorkshire. She has over 20 years’ experience in both the public and voluntary sectors and previously worked for North Yorkshire County Council, the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, and Mencap.

Transforming the energy system to tackle the climate emergency

Keith is the Director of the local and community empowerment team at the Centre for Sustainable Energy, where he supports communities across the United Kingdom to access funding, build partnerships, and drive local change. With more than two decades of experience working with civil society organizations, governments, and community groups worldwide, he previously held roles at Plan International and WWF.

Making a difference for children at risk of harm

Mary is the Chief Executive of Frontline, a national charity working to support children at risk of harm. Across her career, Mary has worked on innovations to develop leadership and practices to drive system change. With more than two decades of experience working in nonprofits, she strives to ensure Frontline’s work is impactful and high quality. Mary values collaboration, clarity, and continuous learning, and these principles are at the heart of Frontline’s culture.

Encouraging young people to participate in democracy

Melisha is a mission-driven leader committed to youth empowerment and community impact. As CEO at My Life My Say, she strengthens civic engagement, governance, and operational strategy. She also serves as Head of Operations at BADU, supporting young people through sports, mentorship and workforce development, and is a Trustee at Rising Tide Trust, championing youth opportunity for young people in the creative arts sector. As an Aerial Fitness Instructor, she helps others build confidence and challenge themselves while having fun defying gravity.

Providing care in crisis

Mohamed leads Raedan Institute's Leicester education and community hub, having trained more than 10,000 teachers, supported more than 10,000 students, distributed more than 150,000 food packs, and relieved debt for more than 500 families since 2006. He established Raedan Football Club and a contact centre for separated families. Mohamed has raised £1.2 million since 2020. As Director of Academica Mentoring, he delivers international teacher training, leadership development, and organizational growth support. 

Providing safety for LGBTQI people 

Moud is the National Director at Micro Rainbow, where she leads work supporting homeless LGBTQI people seeking asylum, refugees, and migrants through safe housing, social inclusion, and employability support. She is a Co-Founder and Chair of UK Black Pride, Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQI people of African and Caribbean descent. With lived experience of seeking asylum and nearly two decades of community organizing, Moud is committed to creating safety, dignity, and opportunities for marginalized people. 

Supporting young women affected by the care system

Okela is the Founder and CEO of Sister System, a charity supporting care-affected girls through mentoring, advocacy, and leadership development. With over two decades in the children and families workforce across the UK and the Caribbean, she has managed services, trained senior practitioners, and advanced professional standards. A qualified therapist and entrepreneur, she champions equitable opportunities for young women.  

Using theatre as a tool for social justice

Rebecca co-founded Odd Arts in 2004, a charity using theatre to reduce inequalities and increase wellbeing and cohesion. Rebecca's work was inspired by the Brazilian theatre practitioner and political activist Augusto Boal, following learning first-hand from his work in South America.  Rebecca passionately advocates for theatre as a tool for social justice and community action. She sits on the National Arts Alliance for Criminal Justice Advisory Group and was awarded an MBE for services to education and communities. 

Shifting power and resources closer to communities

Saboohi Bukhari is Director of Place-Based Giving at Funders Together, where she is growing a national movement that shifts power, resources, and decision-making closer to communities. Rooted in trust, reciprocity, and shared decision-making, Place-Based Giving brings together residents, funders, businesses, and local organizations to unlock local assets, relationships, and leadership. Saboohi believes this approach offers a powerful model for stronger, more connected communities. She has spent more than 25 years championing participation, inclusion, and community-led change.

Enabling affordability and accessibility in childcare 

Susan is the Founder and CEO of Flexible Childcare Services Scotland, a pioneering and resilient social enterprise that is challenging the inflexibility of traditional childcare models, removing barriers of affordability and accessibility, empowering parents to work, study, or train, and creating flourishing families. She is deeply interested in the power of people and communities to change their lives and is an ardent supporter of social enterprise delivery models. She is happiest playing and learning with the children attending her services.

Helping refugees and migrants thrive  

Tom is the Head of Business Development at ACH, a refugee integration specialist that provides housing, training, and wider integration activities across the South West and West Midlands. He has over 13 years’ experience in the sector, with more than five years spent delivering frontline services. He is a member of the advisory committee for the Bristol Local Access Programme, which supports social enterprises in Bristol by providing funding, business support, and resources to foster a more equitable and inclusive economy.

Breaking the cycle of re-offending through sustainable employment 

Will is the Managing Director of Onwards & Upwards, a charity that aims to break the cycle of re-offending within the criminal justice system by launching and growing sustainable social ventures that train, support, and employ ex-offenders. XO Bikes, the first venture, is up and running, XO Barbers launched recently, and XO Clobber is in development. He is a Trustee of Sing Inside and a non-executive director at Accelerate Health CIC. He aims to bring energy where hopelessness and despair prevail.

Interested in joining the 2027 cohort of Acumen Fellows in the UK? Find out more here.