National Saturday Club and Chatham House are delighted to be working in partnership to launch the Society&Change Saturday Club. Pilot Clubs will be hosted by the University of Sussex and Manchester Metropolitan University.

This new programme aims to create opportunities for 13–16-year-olds from across the UK to develop an outward and global mindset, to understand their existing connections to the rest of the world, and to feel a greater sense of agency and awareness of global trends that will shape the world in the coming decades.

Throughout the programme, Club members will be introduced to a wide range of careers including policymaking and diplomacy, advocacy, media and journalism, international trade and business, and the international development and humanitarian sector. Weekly classes will be led by led by professional tutors from the host institutions. Club members will also take part in Masterclasses with industry professionals, as well as an end of year Summer Show and Graduation Ceremonies.

Rose Abdollahzadeh, Managing Director for Research Partnerships at Chatham House said: “We are really excited about the potential for this partnership to encourage young people across the UK to explore their role in the world. The National Saturday Club network will also give Chatham House opportunities to harness the energy, ideas and passion of young people towards positive change. By introducing Club members to contemporary debates on global issues and a range of professions in foreign policy and international relations, our hope is that some Club members will choose to follow a career path into this sector.”  

Lucy Kennedy, Chief Executive of the Saturday Club Trust said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Chatham House to launch the Society&Change Saturday Club, the sixth subject within the National Saturday Club programme. Over the past 12 years, working nationally with 13–16-year-olds, we have seen that young people are eager to share their hopes and ideas for the future and address the issues the world faces. We hope this new Saturday Club will empower them to shape their own futures and will bring the urgent voice of young people to international debate.”

The National Saturday Club now offers six subjects: Art&Design, Fashion&Business, Film&Media, Science&Engineering, Society&Change and Writing&Talking.

With a particular focus on engaging young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented communities, who would not otherwise have these opportunities, the National Saturday Club’s established model has proven impact.

The Society&Change Club is generously supported by Jim and Caroline O’Neill.