You go faster alone, but you can go further together: Why ‘The Big Society’ failed and how we can make it work again. In this episode Steve’s guest and expert witness is Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol. In part one Steve sets out his third principle, in part two Marvin responds.

“This is my conversation with my guest and expert witness Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol. We talk together about Principle 3: You go faster alone, but you can go further together. I really enjoyed my conversation with Marvin because through the lockdowns, through the pandemic, through COVID, I had the opportunity of working with Marvin in Bristol where Oasis runs a number of schools, and I watched a man who knew how to build a team do exactly that. Bristol is an incredible city. A city that's learned that you may go faster alone, but you get a lot further together.”

– Steve Chalke

About Marvin Rees

Marvin Rees was first elected mayor of Bristol in May 2016, and re-elected in 2021, making Bristol the first major European city to have elected a black mayor. Marvin began his working life with Tearfund, one of the UK’s leading international development agencies, before working in Washington D.C with US social justice organisation, Sojourners, and advisor to President Clinton, Dr Tony Campolo. Marvin also worked with the BBC as a broadcast journalist, with the Black Development Agency supporting the BME-led voluntary sector, and in NHS Bristol’s Public Health team on race equality in mental health. Awarded an OBE for services to local government in King Charles’ first New Year’s Honours list, Marvin is also a Yale World Fellow and was named fourth on the UK black Powerlist in 2024.

About this podcast series

This podcast series, and the accompanying book by Steve Chalke, sets out ten tried and tested practical principles for ‘how’ to develop joined up, cost effective, community empowering work, gleaned from the hard-won experience that sit at the heart of the mission of Oasis over the last four decades.

Steve talks to 13 expert witnesses who help him bring his book to life with their own thoughts and lived experiences.

We believe it’s time for a radical reset. It's time for A Manifesto for Hope!

Steve’s book is available wherever you buy your books but we recommend you buy it from Bookshop.org an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.

This book is also available on Audible.

The Manifesto for Hope podcast is brought to you by Oasis. Our producer is Peter Kerwood and the sound and mix engineer is Matteo Magariello.

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