Design for Life: Social connections - RSA

Design for Life: Social connections

Fellowship events / Design for Life series

 -  | BST British Summer Time

The Coffee House (RSA House) and Online via Zoom

  • People & place
  • Fellowship

The world as it is: fragile, unbalanced, degenerative. The world as it could be: resilient, rebalanced, regenerative. Explore with us how particular perspectives on challenge and change can help build flourishing futures for people, places and the planet. 

In this interactive events series, we share insights from the RSA’s Design for Life mission, including six perspectives we consider core to regenerative change: systemic, imaginative, adaptive, collective, long-time and authentic. How might we invite these perspectives into all our work to transform our economic, social and environmental systems to be more conducive to life? 

We spotlight where these perspectives are being applied within a range of work-in-progress interventions by the RSA, as well as by our Fellows and partners to imagine and pursue better futures. Join us to discuss what we’re doing, what we’re learning, and what shows up in your own changemaking work. 

The RSA is working with the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) in partnership with Stripe Partners and Neighbourly Lab, on a first of its kind research project funded by the Nuffield Foundation. Working with Meta's 'Data for Good programme' we will leverage insights from Facebook data to better understand how all forms of social connections between people affect the opportunities they have in their lives. We call this ‘social capital’.

Researching social capital at scale has been historically difficult. However, for the first time, we will have exclusive access to Facebook and Instagram social connections data for the UK.

At this event, Ollie Burrows, Interim Director of Research and Learning, will share how groundbreaking research in the US is showing the economic benefits of cross class connections. Ollie will also share how we are replicating and extending this research in the UK to surface new approaches to social mobility grounded in community needs.

Presentations from our speakers will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion.

We welcome all changemakers who are interested from different fields and disciplines, within and beyond our RSA Fellowship community.

Taking part

We sometimes record our RSA Fellowship events for learning purposes, publicity and/or public viewing. By attending this event, you accept that you may appear in RSA videos or images as an attendee of this event.

If you have any questions, or to let us know of any access requirements or reasonable adjustments you require, please email: [email protected]

Taking part in-person

To participate in the event, you will need to register for a ticket so we can make sure we have an up-to-date list of those who plan on attending. This is for capacity purposes.

We encourage all attendees that are sick or showing symptoms of illness to stay home and to cancel your Eventbrite ticket if you are no longer able to join the event.

Taking part online

For our interactive online events, the RSA uses the platform Zoom. It may be necessary to follow a short set-up process. To understand how Zoom uses your data, please read their Privacy Policy in advance.

Zoom call joining details will be sent out via email in advance of the event.

Upcoming London Fellowship events

  • RSA London meetup

    Fellowship events

    Tavern Room, RSA House, WC2N 6EZ

    Join us in the Tavern Room in RSA House, for this opportunity for Fellows in London to connect and share ideas.

  • An exploration: how to nurture biodiversity

    Fellowship events

    Prince Philip Room, RSA House, London WC2N 6EZ

    Join us for this interactive Fellow-led event with Rob Percival FRSA (Head of Food Policy, Soil Association) in conversation with Bel Jacobs FRSA, discussing the threats to biodiversity and what we can do to address them. Then take part in the Biodiversity Collage, a collaborative workshop learning how balanced ecosystems work.

  • Creative expression in the LGBTQ community

    Fellowship events

    Tavern Room, RSA House WC2N 6EZ, London

    This June, the Fellow-led LGBTQ Network 2023-24 series continues with its exploration of performance, song and dance.