Working Locally - Thanet 2026
In 2026, Collective Discovery will be exploring opportunities to use our skills and experience to support change in power and systems at the local level - in Thanet. This will be a combination of pro-bono and paid work.
It isn't about stepping away from bigger picture work - it's about testing what coordination, strategy, and collective action look like when rooted in place. The Isle of Thanet is the northeastern corner of Kent - covering an area of around 40 square miles with a population of around 140,000 people. The main towns of Thanet are Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate - with smaller towns of Westgate and Birchington-on-sea. The Wantsum Channel silted up by the 16th century and the Island became connected to the mainland. Thanet is where Jenny lives and calls home.
Thanet Changemakers
Thanet Changemakers is a peer network for grassroots organisations working across the Isle of Thanet. Jenny coordinates the network, creating space for local leaders to share experience, learn together, and make the case for the value of their work. We are working on a report about the challenges that leaders face and the challenge of trying to secure funding for their vital work. We’ve also developed a podcast series featuring the voices of people doing vital work in their communities.
Isle of Culture
Jenny coordinated Thanet’s bid for City of Culture 2029 as ‘the Isle of Culture’. Though the bid was not successful, the participatory process generated something real: deeper connections between people and their organisations and communities, a clearer picture of what culture means locally, and a growing movement of people who believe that working together (across our towns and villages) we can make a positive difference.
We are offering our facilitation, research, strategy and coordination skills to local organisations, networks and collective initiatives, this includes:
Process support
Facilitating meetings and decision-making processes that help groups move forward together.
Building platforms
Developing collective platforms and channels that amplify local voices and work.
Strategic thinking
Developing strategy and impact frameworks that connect day-to-day work to longer-term change.
Capacity building
Designing and delivering training and capacity support tailored to local needs.
Research and analysis
Research and policy development that grounds local action in evidence and insight.
Leadership support
Coaching and mentoring for local leaders navigating complex change.