At a time where we are flooded with stories of division, anger and despair, a time where we are told that distance and misunderstanding between communities is growing, it can feel like the opposite - care and solidarity - are in short supply.

On the 4th June, as we celebrated our 12th birthday at Art'otel in Hoxton, something different was happening. Amongst the challenges of a tube strike, around 50 people came together to celebrate another year of our work. For those that know us, these annual events are a key part of the diary - somewhat unusual when compared with most charities who only celebrate the big milestones. Every birthday feels like a milestone given the current funding landscape, but our birthday celebrations are about so much more than that.

Throughout the evening, in every corner of the room, there was an unmistakeable sense of people who belonged to something.

They are a celebration of our graduates, of the changes they make in their lives. They are a celebration of community, of coming together in supportive and loving ways. People on our courses often form deep bonds with their peers as they move through the process of looking inwards, sharing their vulnerabilities, and supporting each other to grow forwards together. This is something that often surprises people - that bonds this deep can form between people who might never otherwise have crossed paths.

Throughout the evening, in every corner of the room, there was an unmistakeable sense of people who belonged to something. The FfC Community launched in 2024 is growing and deepening. And even those who attended who aren't graduates of our courses - funders, supporters, family members of our graduates - entered the evening not particularly knowing other people but leaving with hugs after sharing moving moments of connection together.

As at all our birthday celebrations, we had some of our graduates speak and share their incredible stories of change. One talked about finding her voice and shedding so many of the limiting beliefs that had held her back in her life. Another talked about the deep journey of healing that took place whilst on Psychology for Change, a powerful combination of the theories he learnt and the deep safety and care of the group that helped him begin to shed a lifetime of pain. About how this has now led to a strong sense of agency and choice. Another talked about her experience on Feminism for Change and coming to see other women as allies rather than competition. What it meant to feel, for the first time, the power of women coming together.

We have worked with over 650 people since 2014.

We also took a moment to formally recognise the achievements of our most recent graduates, presenting qualification certificates to mark the completion of their courses. For each person, it was tangible recognition of something real: months of difficult, courageous inner work.

Threaded throughout the stories was something picked up in the closing speech by trustee, Lucie Russell - that our work crucially connects the personal to the political. That this combination of intensive, personal work needs to be connected to an understanding of the wider forces that shape people's lives in order for them to begin seeing themselves differently. And each other too.

At a time when that connection feels increasingly rare, it felt like a profound and timely moment for this to be named.

We turned 12 this year. We have worked with over 650 people since 2014. Demand for our courses currently runs at twice our capacity. And evenings like this one remind us, with absolute clarity, why the work matters and why it needs to grow.

Thank you to everyone who was there. To our graduates, past and present, who are the heart of everything we do. To Botivo for sponsoring the drinks. To Art'otel for hosting us. And to every funder, supporter and ally in the room - your belief in this work makes it possible.

If you'd like to find out more or support our work, you can do so here.