Bridging Communities: Creating the Change You Want to See in the World

What does it really take to create meaningful change?

Join us for the first Bridging Communities event of 2026, hosted by The Melting Pot in collaboration with the Edinburgh Futures Institute, as we explore what it means to turn bold ideas into real-world action.

This event is for people who want to make a difference in their organisations, communities and wider society. We know that meaningful change rarely happens by accident. It takes imagination, persistence, collaboration and the courage to try something new. It’s felt across all sectors and shapes and sizes of organisations.

Through the stories of three inspiring speakers, we’ll hear firsthand how new initiatives have been created that have gone on to influence Scottish society, from changing the world of grant making to reshaping thinking and practice in the public sector. These are stories of creating something truly new, navigating uncertainty and building momentum for change in a sustainable way.

After each speaker, there will be time to reflect on what you’ve heard and connect it with your own context. This period of individual reflection will allow you to questions like: what change do you want to see, what stands in the way, and what practical steps could help move your ideas forward?

Whether you’re leading change inside an organisation, supporting communities, developing new ideas, or simply looking for inspiration and connection, this event is designed to help you think bigger, act more deliberately, and learn with others who care about creating a better future.

What to expect

• Light refreshments on arrival

• Three inspiring speakers sharing their experience of creating meaningful change

• Facilitated reflection and conversation after each speaker

• Networking with people from across sectors who are working to make a positive difference

• A warm and welcoming event — whether you love networking or usually avoid it, you’ll leave with fresh perspectives and new connections

Who’s it for?

This event is open to all sectors, inviting as many different perspectives in the room as possible. Whether you work in the public, private or third sector or are part of a community initiative or social enterprise, Bridging Communities is designed to help you step outside your usual circles, connect with others and spark new possibilities for action.

What We Need From You:

• To reflect on what new initiatives have inspired you in the past 

• To consider what new concepts get you excited in 2026

• To bring one belief that you feel accelerates change 

Meet Our Speakers

Three speakers will share their experiences of creating truly new initiatives that have changed the worlds of grant making and the public sector.

Adam Underwood, Business Development Lead, St Columba’s Hospice Care 
Adam Underwood joined St Columba’s Hospice Care in 2023 as the Business Development Lead. In this role, he focuses on finding creative ways to generate diverse income streams that support the future growth of the Hospice. Adam helps launch new social enterprises that reflect the hospice’s values, aiming to create meaningful experiences for the community while also raising funds. 
 

He’s passionate about making a positive impact through thoughtful, ethical business ideas. By building strong partnerships and working closely with others, Adam helps turn good ideas into real projects that benefit both the hospice and the people it serves. His work not only brings in much-needed revenue but also helps raise awareness about the hospice’s mission. 

At the heart of everything he does is a commitment to making things better for everyone involved—whether that’s patients, families, or the wider community. 

Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin, Co-Director of Scottish Policy & Research Exchange 

Catherine-Rose is a knowledge mobiliser and has worked across different areas of policy 
and practice, including community development, health, social care, youth justice, children 
and family services and public health. Her research brings together an ethics of care and the 
sociology of knowledge. She is also an experienced evaluator using creative methods and 
contribution analysis. 

At her heart, Catherine-Rose is a carer – someone who looks to the ways we can repair and 
heal. She was a young carer and a care worker. Then she studied systems of care. Now, 
she works to repair the systems of support we have around us. 

As the Co-Director of the Scottish Policy & Research Exchange, Catherine-Rose is focused on supporting just and equitable governance in Scotland by connecting decision makers with 
a diversity of research about the problems we face. As the Co-Chair of Social Action Inquiry 
Scotland, Catherine-Rose supported a four-year learning process about how change 
happens when it is led directly by communities. 

Leah Black, Co-Head of Regenerative Futures Fund for Edinburgh 

Leah Black is the Co-Head of Regenerative Futures Fund for Edinburgh, in the team at Foundation Scotland. Regenerative Futures Fund is a new 10-year £15m pooled fund for Edinburgh that shifts power to communities to make decisions and collaborate across sectors to lead systemic change tackling the root causes of poverty, racism and climate injustice.  

Prior to joining the Foundation Scotland team Leah spent two years seconded to EVOC from her role as Chief Executive of WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes, leading the development phase of Regenerative Futures Fund. Prior to this Leah has worked in a funding with Creative Scotland, as Director of Spring Fling and Upland CIC in Dumfries and Galloway, has been a board member of Craft Scotland, The Stove Network, a Warden of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh and is an MCR Pathways mentor to a young person. 

Tickets

Hosted in collaboration with Edinburgh Futures Institute, this event is free and open to all.

However if you are able we would welcome a donation to help The Melting Pot cover their costs to run the event (this includes marketing, staff time and event facilitation).

Address:

Edinburgh Futures Institute

Room 2.55, Level 2

1 Lauriston Place

Edinburgh

EH3 9EF

Our Collaborators

This event is hosted by The Melting Pot in collaboration with the Edinburgh Futures Institute. If you would like to become a collaborator, please reach out to The Melting Pot team.