Notwestminster is a free event for everyone who has something positive to say about local democracy and anyone who is up for the challenge of making it better.
Do you want to be part of a kinder, more constructive and more open local democracy? If we want a more compassionate kind of democracy that matters for our everyday lives (and in which our everyday lives matter) then we can each be part of making that happen. Notwestminster is about finding the people, ideas and energy we need, so that we can grow our understanding by listening to each other, and where we can work together to improve our local democracy.
If you’re up for the challenge, please join us for two days of workshops, quick-fire talks, practical activities, conversations and inspiration in Huddersfield. Notwestminster is a free event and everyone is welcome to take part. All we ask is that you are interested in making our local democracy better, and willing to do something to make it happen.
Big hearts, open minds
Our kind of democracy is human-scale. When we talk about local democracy, we mean the democracy that happens where we are, in our neighbourhoods and the places that we know. It is the democracy that we live and breathe, each and every day. It only lives when we have our hearts in it, and it only grows when we are open to thinking and doing in different ways.
Notwestminster took root in the West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield in 2015, and has grown into a community of people who give their time and attention to improving our local democracy in places across the UK. It’s a welcoming place for an amazing variety of people, which only exists because of the generosity of our participants, where we make room for each other’s ideas and experiences, and where we are reminded that local democracy has a big heart.
You can come to Notwestminster to share your ideas and experiences, listen to others, learn new ways of doing things, be part of finding solutions to issues for our local democracy, bring your questions, share your aspirations, hear things that will spark your imagination, and meet lots of people who are at the heart of efforts to improve our local democracy, for everyone.
Register now
So if you’re open to our local democracy being what we want it to be, and if you’re up for the challenge of doing something to help make it happen, please join us at Notwestminster. If a kinder local democracy is your kind of democracy, you’re in the right place.
Workshops & Lightning talks
Our lively workshop sessions, all led by our participants, are at the heart of our main event. Want to run a workshop at Notwestminster? We are accepting ideas for our Saturday workshops now.
Our main event also includes our popular Lightning Talks, where you'll hear about all kinds of inspiring projects and activities, and our Ideas Bazaar where you can see all the ideas created on the day and decide what you’re going to do next.