Active Hope Training
Co-learning group
Active Hope is a free training course that walks you through the Work that Reconnects. It offers seven ways to grow our capacity, intention and enthusiasm to act for positive change.
The course, based on the book by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone helps us strengthen our capacity in facing the multiple crises across our world.
The Active Hope Foundations Training course is available online for free, but if you're anything like me you may have signed up to free courses before and not got further than week 1.
This is why I starting running the Active Hope co-learning group.
My intention in setting up the co-learning group was that we would;
hold each other accountable, completing the 60-90 minutes of course content each week; Committing our intentions to a group can help us complete tasks we might struggle to complete alone
collectively deepen our learning and understanding, sharing insights, alternative perspectives and lived experiences to bring the course content to life; we also spend time exploring the weekly practices.
Build a sense of community through the 8 weeks, sharing our key learnings we will take into the world whilst creating connections.
The first cohort ran in September 2025 and it went better than I could have possibility imagined. Learners found the co-learning experience supportive, heart-felt and a useful way to keep them engaged with the course materials.
Based on the success of the first cohort, and my own transformative experience of the Active Hope course; I'm running another cohort starting 26th March 2026.
Timing
The co-learning group will start the w/c 23rd March. Each week I'll host a zoom call on Thursdays 12-1pm on the following dates;
Thursday 26th March
Thursday 9th, 16th 23rd April - Note clocks go forwards for British Summer Time on the 29th March. Check your timezone in case the time change is different.
Thursday 7th, 14th and 28th May.
There is a 2 week gap between the last two sessions to give you time to absorb the material, catch up on Active Hope Training videos and bring some of the practices to life.
Cost
The March Co-learning group is being financially supported through the Sheffield Social Enterprise Festival of Social Enterprise.
There are a limited number of supported places available for Sheffield Social Enterprises and SEGA participants; please contact me to secure a place.
If you are able to financially contribute to support my work and allow me to offer more co-learning groups in the future, suggested donations are below.
Standard Supporter
£35 for the 7 week group or £5/week; for those able to meet their basic needs and have some disposable income
Solidarity Supporter
£70+ for the 7 week group or £10/week; for those who can comfortably meet their basic needs, have expendable income and are able to pay it forward to participants with less financial security.
Watch this 4 minute video for a more detailed idea of what to expect in the Active Hope Co-learning group
The free, online Active Hope course consists of around 60-90 minutes of "core" content each week. Some weeks there are additional videos which deepen your learning, but are optional.
In addition to these videos you are also offered a practice each week which supports you to bring the content to life.
The co-learning group offers you wraparound support to help you through the Active Hope Training. We will meet once a week, via Zoom. The usual format for this is;
A short grounding to settle us into the space
Welcome and introduction
Checking in on last week's practice; everyone on the call is invited, but not obligated to share their experience
A summary of this week's content; Emma will give an overview of the videos and content from the online course
An invitation to try this week's practice; either in small breakout rooms or a larger group, we explore the practice from the course.
Closing reflections and gratitude
It's encouraged that you will have read/watched most of the Active Hope course content before the Zoom call if possible, but I know we are all busy! Just showing up to the calls if a gift in itself.
I can also set up email sharing and a cohort whatsapp group if the groups finds that supportive. You can also reach out to me individually for additional support.
What to expect
I appreciate you might not be available for all of the calls, but if you can join the majority of calls that helps us to create a consistent and accountable co-learning group.
If these timings don't work for you, get in touch to suggest alternatives and I'll see if we can get a group together.
I want to express my deep gratitude to Joanna Macy, Chris Johnstone and everyone involved in the creation of the Active Hope training. I also want to thank everyone from the first co-learning group who created such a wonderful, heart-felt community; and generously donated their time, energy and compassion that it fuelled me to continue this work.
I would really love to run more Active Hope Co-learning groups for different groups and in different formats. Please get in touch to discuss running a group for your organisation, community group or neighbour to see if we can create more Active Hope together!
If you are able to contribute more, this enables me to facilitate more supported or free places for individuals or groups in need.
Not sure which category fits your circumstances? Check out the Worts & Cunning Apothecary Green Bottles to learn more about sliding scale payments.