Jez Hall
director
My work through Shared Future CIC allows me to follow my commitment to empowering individuals and communities. I lead on our business development and partnerships, and I also support the delivery of our deliberative projects.
One of Shared Future’s founding directors, I coordinate our work on participatory budgeting (PB). PB is recognised worldwide as an effective way for empowering local communities and as a model of best practice in democratic engagement.
I led our successful PB development work in Scotland, which has embedded it within many community engagement strategies and has led to millions of pounds being directed by everyday citizens. I’m especially passionate about our work on youth and child PB, and Green or climate themed PB, and have co-authored many of our PB resources and guides.
I like playing my part, making a positive difference to a community, an organisation or an individual, and through that participation contribute to the well-being of others.
Previously I have been employed by the World Bank as a community engagement specialist, working in Kenya and Mozambique. I supporting Participedia’s international database of democratic participation, through the University of Westminster’s Centre for the Study of Democracy.
And I have lots of other professional interests. Such as my work with Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organistion (GMCVO), developing community renewable energy projects. For many years I was a director of the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire, and a Trustee and Treasurer of the Levenshulme Old Library Community Arts Centre in Manchester.
Earlier in my career I was employed by Lancaster University Management School, specialising in social enterprise R&D. For a few years I was a non-executive director of Central Manchester Primary Health Trust and also worked for a community-led design and architecture charity. And I support Shared Future’s own Social Economy offer. Including promoting the social economy sector in Greater Manchester, where I have lived for the last 40 years.