The Faces of Change: Andrew

After celebrating many of The Agency Alumni Agents in Series 1, we’re shining the spotlight on the powerhouse team behind The Agency of Change. These are the passionate creatives who turn ideas into impact - visionaries working together to inspire change and drive our mission forward.


For this article, we’re shifting the spotlight to The National Team, based across the UK.

Hear from Andrew Westle, our National Programme Manager. Since stepping into this role in 2021, Andrew has been instrumental in shaping The Agency’s direction. Under his leadership, the programme has continued to make an immense impact, supporting young people to lead and innovate in their communities.

He works closely with the National team members Kate Bradnam, Methodology and Facilitation Lead as well as Kristy Cheng, National Team Coordinator. This year will see them expand The Agency of Change into a new exciting directions, so scroll down to hear from Andrew and keep an eye on our socials for more exciting updates!

Andrew Q&A

When did you join The Agency and what inspired you to join?

I joined The Agency in 2021 as the National Programme Manager. I was inspired by the true focus on co-creation and its commitment to seeing individuals with the answers and solutions to create lasting change their communities. It aligns deeply with my belief in the transformative power of creativity. 

In your own words, what's your role at The Agency?

I oversee the national delivery of The Agency, supporting teams across partner organisations. My role is about nurturing creative potential, ensuring the programme remains impactful, and expanding its reach. Lots of emails, lots of spreadsheets, lots of meeting- always trying to embed the methodology and values behind it in everything we do.

Now if you had to describe your role in one word (and why you chose that word!), what would it be?

"Connector." My role involves connecting people, ideas, and resources across communities and organisations to create opportunities for people to thrive.

What do you think makes The Agency stand out from other creative programmes?

The Agency places young people at the centre. They are the leaders, the expert of their experience, and with the right support and resources can be the leaders of change in there communities.  It’s not about delivering a pre-set curriculum but working alongside participants, which fosters genuine, impactful projects.

Describe a recent moment at The Agency that made you feel especially proud or moved.

Watching a young person present their project at a community event and seeing the pride in their family’s and peers’ faces was incredibly moving. But there are so many reminders as to why this work is so important, that pop up all the time, in different parts of the programme.

The Agency started in Brazil before coming to the UK. If you could bring the programme to another country, where would that be?

I’d bring The Agency to Australia. The country has a rich tradition of arts activism and community-driven change, which aligns beautifully with the programme’s ethos. It is also where I grew up, born on the lands of the Bunurong, on the Mornington Peninsula.

Do you have a motto or phrase that guides you in your work or life?

“It is not that deep.”


Agents as Leaders

In an April update, reflected on the heart of our work at The Agency of Change. As this years Agents near the end of the programme (we call this Cycle Two), he shared powerful insights on leadership, community, and the behind-the-scenes dedication that shapes everything we do. Here's what he had to say:

“At The Agency, we do things differently. It’s not just about the visible work, but the invisible hours spent thinking through next steps, offering support at the end of a text, and walking alongside Agents as they develop their projects. This behind-the-scenes effort brings the methodology to life. As Cycle Two draws to a close, we want to celebrate the collective efforts that have made this work possible, trusting the process, celebrating achievements, and learning along the way. We all know how hard all the delivery teams have worked!

Recently, I attended a conference where ‘deprivation’ and ‘raising aspirations’ were discussed. These terms continue to miss the mark. Communities aren’t lacking, they are often lacking investment, care, and services. Their dreams haven’t disappeared; they’ve been shaped by systemic failure. Yet, many still assume these communities need ‘fixing.’ We proudly take a different approach, walking alongside young people, helping them create ideas for their communities. We can all see first-hand the impact this is having, both on an individual and collective level.

Our work isn’t just about creating projects. It’s about supporting young people to lead, transforming ideas into action, and celebrating when those ideas take flight. As Cycle Two ends, it is important that we keep building momentum, opening our networks, and offering the support needed for Agents to continue to grow.

The work happening here is transformative, and it is a moment to thank everyone for helping us, from the funders who back us, the staff who dedicate themselves, and the alumni who continue to contribute. I look forward to celebrating with many of you at the first Agency Project Showcase.

Together, we’re building a stronger movement.

Peace, Power, Love and Rage!”

-Andrew Westle, The Agency National Programme Manager


International Change

Andrew co-wrote an article for The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, about the inspiration The Agency of Change has given young people, arts leaders, communities and international organisations.

Originally created by Marcus Faustini in Brazil, our programme has grown exponentially over the past 10 years and is now delivered in six locations across the UK and Northern Ireland - with no sign of slowing down.

Click here to read the article in English and Portuguese.


Enjoyed this read?

This was the second article in series 2 of ‘the Faces of Change’. have a look at the first one here.
Click here to see the full location teams and a snapshot of past agents from each city The Agency Programme has taken place in.
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The Faces of Change: Jemica and Ben

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Agency Community Research: Working Towards Safer Communities