The Faces of Change: Kate
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 remotely and also at The Agency Headquarters in London.
Hear from Kate Bradnam, our Methodology and Facilitation Lead who’s been with us since 2012. Bringing her expertise to the forefront, she focuses on supporting all the Facilitators and Agents, ensuring that the learnings of the methodology are captured.
She works closely with the National team members Dr Andrew Westle, National Programme Manager as well as Kristy Cheng, National Team Coordinator.
This year will see them expand The Agency of Change into a new exciting direction, so scroll down to hear from Kate and keep an eye on our socials for more exciting updates!
Kate Q&A
When did you join The Agency and what inspired you to join?
Suzie Henderson and Liz Morton - aka the ‘Queens of The Agency’ brought the methodology over from Brazil in 2013, in partnership with the amazing team at Peoples Palace Projects. Suzie and I had some great chats about her adventures in Rio, and I got really interested in the project.
In the second year of delivery, she asked me to join the Manchester team. I took over the lead facilitator role from my longtime collaborator and mentor, Danny Fahey, honestly, it was my trust in him that convinced me to jump on board. That was 2014, and 10 years later, I’m still here! My role has evolved, but my love for The Agency hasn’t changed.
In your own words, what's your role at The Agency?
I look after The Agency’s methodology and help to grow the movement, supporting facilitators and teams across the UK to deliver their best version of the programme. I travel around visiting our Agents, helping them connect with each other across the network, and finding opportunities for their development and collaboration, both within and beyond The Agency.
Now if you had to describe your role in one word, what would it be?
Nurture - because when you care for something (or someone) and give it the right support, you get to see it grow. That’s what I try to do with The Agency.
What’s a hidden gem in one of The Agency Territories that everyone should know about?
The real hidden gems of any territory are the people, the backbone of a community. The ones who work tirelessly, often without financial reward, to make life better for those around them.
But if I had to pick a place, I’d say The Larder in Lache, Chester. It’s a resident-run social supermarket, and it’s just amazing. You can get a massive bag of really good-quality food for a super low price, an absolute lifeline in this cost-of-living crisis. And it’s more than just a shop, the people running it have created a beautiful space, complete with a garden for growing fruit and veg. It’s a perfect example of community care in action.
What do you think makes The Agency stand out from other creative programmes?
The Agency evolves based on the people who come into contact with it. The methodology isn’t just a process; it’s something we embody, and the ecosystem shifts as new voices shape it. But most of all, it’s the relationships. The Agency doesn’t just let go!
We’ve built a community that lasts. We’re still in touch with Agents from Year 1, and I’m lucky enough to collaborate with people I first met when they were 15 and 16 years old. That ongoing connection is something really special.
Who has been one of your biggest inspirations or role models (inside or outside The Agency)?
Ademola Adedeji- what a guy.
I met Ade when he was 15, when he and fellow Agent Alex created Something to Say, an incredible publication that platformed inspirational stories of young Black people in their area. He’s one of the kindest and loveliest young people I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.
While working on the second volume of Something to Say, Ade was arrested, later convicted, and imprisoned: a gross miscarriage of justice. In my opinion (and in the opinion of many others), this was a direct result of an institutionally racist system. It’s not my story to tell, but what I can say is that his resilience and compassion floor me. Despite facing one of the biggest injustices imaginable, in the most hostile of environments, he never stopped fighting for the rights and wellbeing of others.
After a long, exhausting battle, Ade has finally been acquitted of all charges. I have no doubt he’ll go on to be his incredible self, making the world a better place- just by being in it. A person who can still be this caring, giving, and optimistic after everything he’s endured? That’s inspiration in its purest form.
Describe a moment at The Agency that made you feel especially proud or moved.
I cried at an Agency session in Manchester the other week. Twenty Agents sat in a circle, it was the first time I’d met them, and one by one, they announced their project ideas. Every single one was incredible. The heart behind them, the personal experiences that shaped them, it was overwhelming. Hearing so many young people, so clearly and passionately, articulate the impact they want to have on their community was emotional.
My tears were of pride, but also of rage. The media paints young people in Moston and Harpurhey as dangerous, violent, a problem to be dealt with. It’s disgusting, and so far from the truth. These are young people who, in many cases, have been failed by the very systems meant to support them. And yet, here they are, stepping up, ready to make things better for their community. It’s a privilege to hear them speak, and I wish everyone could witness that.
The Agency started in Brazil before coming to the UK. If you could bring the programme to another country, where would that be?
We are in talks with an NGO in Mexico to begin The Agency there in September so watch this space!
Do you have a motto or phrase that guides you in your work or life?
“Fail, fail again fail better”
Finally, if there were a movie or a book about your life, what genre would it be, and who would play you?
I think it would be a photo book - I think visually so it would make sense to tell my story this way.
Enjoyed this read?
This was the FOURTH article in the second series of ‘Faces of Change’ keep an eye out for more very soon!
Click here to see the full location teams and a snapshot of past agents from each city The Agency Programme has taken place in.