Now Then! Building networks of citizen power with James Lock of Opus in Sheffield

Mar 26, 2025

In this engaging discussion, James Lock, Co-founder and Managing Director of Opus Independents Ltd, delves into the importance of community empowerment and systemic change in Sheffield. He shares insights on building grassroots initiatives through art and activism, emphasizing the significance of local economies and innovative practices like local currencies. The conversation also touches on fostering community resilience and the role of storytelling in enhancing civic engagement. Listeners are encouraged to take action and replicate these transformative strategies in their own communities.

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ANECDOTE

Early Work Experiences

James Lock worked various temporary jobs in his youth, from laboring to factory work.
These jobs taught him about "bullshit jobs" and the value of human interaction in the workplace.

INSIGHT

Opus and Now Then Magazine

Opus initially aimed to create lasting experiences by publishing a free, high-quality magazine.
They prioritized working with independent businesses and charities to avoid corporate monoculture.

ANECDOTE

Festival of Debate Origins

The 2015 UK general election spurred James Lock and Opus to create the Festival of Debate.
They felt the political discourse was inadequate and didn't reflect community-level innovation.

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We all know the current system of predatory capitalism is not fit for purpose. We don't (yet) all agree on how to fix it, but for sure, no problem is solved from the mindset that created it. So how do we begin to compost the debris of the failing system to grow something constructive, generative, connected communities that can act as a bridge from where we are towards that future we'd be proud to leave behind?

James Lock is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Opus Independents Ltd, a not-for-profit social enterprise, working in culture, politics and the arts. Opus works to encourage and support participation, systemic activism and creativity with project strands that include Now Then Magazine & App, Festival of Debate. Opus Distribution, the River Dôn Project and Wordlife.

I met James and other members of Opus in Sheffield last summer when we were all part of the Sheffield Social Enterprise Network summer conference and I was really blown away by their understanding of systemic thinking, by their absolute commitment to total systemic change and by the flexibility of their thinking. Here were people who were taking the concepts that we talk about and making them real, amongst real people in a real place. So we agreed that we'd talk first to James for an overview of what Opus is and does, how the thinking comes together and how we can each take ideas from here and scale them up and out in the places we live. Clearly each city, town, village, street is unique, but some principles are universal and I think we can all learn from the ways James thinks about things as he strives to create the bridges towards a new system.

Links

Opus https://www.weareopus.org/
Festival of Debate https://festivalofdebate.com/
Opus 2024 Report https://www.weareopus.org/opus-annual-report-2024
Opus on LInkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/opusindependents/
Fairness on the 83 https://fairnessonthe83.nowthenmagazine.com/
Citizen Network https://citizen-network.org/
Dark Matter Labs Cornerstone Indicators https://darkmatterlabs.org/initiatives/cornerstone-indicators
Plum Village podcast w Kate Raworth https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/mindful-economics-in-conversation-with-kate-raworth/id1579910767?i=1000669364849

James is Co Founder & Director at Opus

Co Founder of Now Then Magazine

Co Founder of the UBI Lab Network

Co Founder of Festival of Debate

Co Founder of Foundations Earth

Co Founder of The River Don Project

Voluntary Roles:

Social Entrepreneur In Residence at Sheffield Hallam University

Advisory Board Member on SYMCA Local Nature Recovery Strategy

General Secretary of the Independent Media Association

South Yorkshire Social Enterprise Place Steering Group Member

Advisory Board Yorkshire & Humber Office for Data Analytics

If you want to share the journey with us, we're here:
Accidental Gods Gatherings https://accidentalgods.life/gatherings-2025/
Accidental Gods Membership https://accidentalgods.life/join-us/