From Shared Purpose to Collective Action: Lessons from the We Can Move Systems Leadership Programme
Many of the challenges facing our communities today - from physical inactivity and poor health outcomes to widening inequalities - are too complex for any one organisation, sector or individual to solve alone. They require us to work differently, build stronger relationships, and collaborate across traditional boundaries.
With this in mind, this year Active Gloucestershire launched the Systems Leadership Programme, funded through Sport England's Place Universal Offer investment. The first cohort of the programme brought together 43 leaders from across the county, representing health, local government, transport, sport and physical activity, climate, education, community organisations, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Taking a systems approach
By developing the skills, relationships and shared understanding needed to work across organisational boundaries, the programme is strengthening the We Can Move movement, helping organisations collaborate more effectively to create the conditions that enable everyone in Gloucestershire to move more and be physically active.
Delivered across four workshops by Debbie Sorkin (link to DEBBIE SORKIN | Leadership Centre) from The Leadership Centre, the programme focuses on building the capacity, capability and confidence of leaders to work effectively across organisational and sector boundaries, navigate complexity, influence change, and address inequalities through a systems leadership approach.
Fostering collaboration
According to Mike Thurlow, Strategic Lead for Place at Active Gloucestershire:
"The challenges we are trying to address across Gloucestershire are complex and interconnected, and no single organisation or sector can solve them alone. Our Systems Leadership Programme was designed to create the space for people from different sectors, disciplines and communities to come together, build relationships, develop their leadership practice, and work collectively towards improving health and reducing inequalities. The energy, openness and commitment shown by this first cohort has been incredibly encouraging."
Whilst the dust has not yet settled on the full learning and impact, several themes have emerged strongly. The programme has felt particularly timely. Against a backdrop of significant change across health and local government, participants recognised that while structures may evolve, many of the people and relationships within communities remain constant and have an important role to play in shaping the future.
There was also a strong shared purpose across the cohort. Participants demonstrated a genuine commitment to working together to tackle inequalities, get more people moving, and improve the health and wellbeing of Gloucestershire residents. A key theme was the recognition that everyone has a role to play in creating the conditions for healthier, more active lives, and that meaningful change cannot happen in isolation; it requires collaboration, trust and collective action.
One participant reflected:
"I have found it so useful. I have learnt new skills, ways of thinking and ideas, but also met people who I may not otherwise have connected with."
The connections made through the programme have been one of its greatest strengths, creating opportunities for collaboration that extend far beyond the workshops themselves.
What's next?
Following the success of Cohort One, Active Gloucestershire will be launching Cohort Two later this year. If you are interested, or know someone who would benefit from the programme, please complete this Expression of Interest form.
Find out more
Active Gloucestershire has also created a short film featuring reflections from members of Cohort One, sharing their experiences and learning from the programme:
You can watch the film here:
System Leadership Programme 2026 - YouTube
For more information, contact Mike Thurlow, at Active Gloucestershire, MichaelThurlow@ActiveGloucestershire.org