It is also the chance to meet like-minded individuals with a strong variety of interests, experiences and backgrounds and forge and build worthwhile and valuable relationships and networks with our fellow Patchworkers.”

The Patchwork Foundation’s year-long Masterclass Programme includes sessions with esteemed political figures in British civil society. These sessions allow Patchworkers on the programme to hear from individuals with different lived experiences and a breadth of engagement with politics and civil society.

A Masterclass allows our young people on the programme to ask questions about their personal development and to learn more about politics from professionals at the top. The discussion is chaired by one of our Patchworkers, who presents the speaker, briefly discussing their work before moving on to the structured questions.

The discussions are conducted under Chatham House rule, to allow for more open and safe dialogue.

Before each Masterclass session, the cohorts research the speaker to make the session as beneficial to them as possible. During the briefing on the day, they share the aspects they found relevant and interesting about the speaker, enabling them to partake in an educated conversation both with other Patchworkers and the Masterclass tutor.

Previous Masterclass tutors include:

  • Rt Hon David Cameron, former Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party
  • Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP, Secretary of State for Education
  • Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, former leader of the Labour Party
  • Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • Caroline Lucas MP, former leader of the Green Party
  • Sir Edward Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
  • Tamara Finkelstein CB, Permanent Secretary, DEFRA
  • Pippa Crerar, The Guardian Journalist
  • Mishal Hussain, BBC Journalist

Previous Masterclasses:

Masterclass with Caroline Lucas MP
Masterclass with Pippa Crerar
Masterclass with Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP
Masterclass with Antonia Romeo
Masterclass at 10 Downing Street
Masterclass with Rt Hon David Lammy MP
Masterclass at 10 Downing Street
Masterclass with Sir Ed Davey MP