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.
Previously I have been employed by the World Bank as a community engagement specialist, working in Kenya and Mozambique. 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 still support Shared Future’s own Social Economy offer. Including promoting the social economy sector in Greater Manchester, where I have mostly lived for the last 30 years.
– RICOL Ltd, a London based cooperative providing language services
Outside of Shared Future I undertake my own work, gaining international experience with organisations such as the World Bank and the Swedish Association for Local Government. I’ve travelled widely to international conferences and written for and contributed to academic research on social and democratic innovation. I have participated in a number of research led international learning exchanges, and frequently partner with organisations and individuals doing similar work or sharing a common interest. Such as my involvement with Jam and Justice, looking into co-production and urban governance.
Before helping to set up Shared Future, and before working at Lancaster University Management School, I spent over 10 years working as a project development officer for an architecture charity. Supporting community groups on developing capital projects such as new parks, youth centres or saving heritage buildings. Providing group facilitation, project management, technical advice, and business planning expertise to community organisations. As well as undertaking feasibility studies and delivering training on topics like community building management and social impact.
Between 2005 and 2007 I was a non-executive director of a North West Primary Care Trust, which coordinated over £500m of public spending annually to run health services across the central area of Manchester. In 2012 I worked for the University of Westminster’s Centre for the Study of Democracy supporting Participedia’s international database of democratic participation.
I think it’s important to be active within a community in a voluntary capacity. For example, I’ve been involved in the transformation of a closed public library into a community led centre for arts and culture. I’ve been chair of my neighbourhood association, and once even stood to be a local councillor. I like to play my part towards making a positive difference to a community, an organisation or an individual, and through that participation contribute to the well-being of others.