Civic Forum

Join us
A circular wooden table in a bright, modern community hall, its smooth oak surface covered with neatly arranged documents, color-coded sticky notes, and an unfolded map of a small British town. In the center, a polished brass bell and a small, tasteful acrylic sign reading “Civic Forum – Agenda” stand upright. Behind, floor-to-ceiling windows reveal soft-focus greenery and traditional stone buildings. Gentle late-afternoon natural light fills the room, creating soft shadows and subtle reflections on the table. Photographic realism from a slightly elevated, eye-level angle, with a shallow depth of field that keeps the table in sharp focus while the background blurs, conveying a calm, professional, and constructive atmosphere suited to thoughtful local discussion.

About Us

Discover who we are, how we work, and why local dialogue matters for Malmesbury and beyond.

Origins

Many people complain that Britain is not being well-run, but few know what to do. Civic Forum is growing from local conversations about how to strengthen democracy, give our communities influence and suggest practical problem‑solving. We are strictly non‑party, welcoming subjects and citizens of all views who value thoughtful discussion, shared evidence and collaborative action.

Our principles
An atmospheric evening scene of a historic English market town square, clearly inspired by Malmesbury, with stone buildings and a church tower in the distance, all empty of people. In the foreground, several sturdy wooden benches encircle a low, circular stone planter filled with well-tended flowers. Discreet metal plaques on the benches read “Civic Forum – A Space for Conversation.” Warm golden-hour light washes over the stone façades, with long, soft shadows stretching across the cobblestones. Photographic realism, captured at eye level with a wide angle, highlighting both the intimate seating area and the broader town context, evoking a peaceful, reflective mood and a sense of shared civic space.

Our Convenors

A tidy, well-lit council-style meeting room with an oval conference table made of light ash wood, each place set with a slim tablet, a glass of water, and a small tent card labeled with neutral role titles like “Chair”, “Facilitator”, and “Note-taker.” At one end, a large wall-mounted digital screen displays a minimalist infographic titled “Community Priorities” with clear, colorful icons representing housing, environment, and transport. Soft, evenly diffused ceiling lighting creates a clean, neutral ambience with minimal shadows. Photographic realism, shot from a wide-angle, slightly elevated corner view to capture the entire arrangement, emphasizing order, transparency, and professionalism in civic dialogue.

Christopher Eddison-Cogan

A modern study desk setup intended for online civic participation, featuring a slim silver laptop open to a clean, blue-and-white “Civic Forum” homepage with simple navigation and a headline about respectful dialogue. The laptop sits on a pale birch desk alongside a spiral-bound notebook, a fine-point pen, and a ceramic mug in muted navy. Behind, a bookshelf holds neatly arranged policy reports, local history books, and a small model of the UK map. Soft morning light from an unseen window creates even illumination with gentle highlights on the laptop edges. Photographic realism, shot from a three-quarter angle with shallow depth of field, producing a calm, focused, and professional atmosphere ideal for thoughtful online engagement.

Jennifer Hogan-Brown

A close-up, photographic image of a neatly pinned community notice board made from natural cork with a slim brushed-aluminum frame, mounted on a white wall. The board is covered with thoughtfully arranged flyers and posters for local meetings, town hall forums, and non-partisan debates, all in tasteful blues and greens with clean typography. A central poster reads “Malmesbury Civic Forum – Join the Conversation” above a simple outline map of the UK. Soft, indirect daylight from a nearby window illuminates the textures of the paper and cork, casting gentle side shadows. Captured straight-on with moderate depth of field and crisp detail, creating a calm, inviting, and well-organized impression of community engagement.

Zuri Ndlovu

A large, wall-mounted paper map of Britain in a meeting room, printed in soft blues and greys, with small, neatly placed colored pins marking existing and potential civic forums in various towns. Below the map, a slim white shelf holds a row of labeled folders and a single, minimalist glass vase with a green branch. Cool, diffused daylight from a side window creates subtle texture on the paper and faint shadows from the pins. Photographic realism, captured straight-on with sharp focus across the scene, giving a clear, ordered view that suggests growth, connection, and the expansion of local forums into a nationwide network.

Leila Haddad

A circular wooden table in a bright, modern community hall, its smooth oak surface covered with neatly arranged documents, color-coded sticky notes, and an unfolded map of a small British town. In the center, a polished brass bell and a small, tasteful acrylic sign reading “Civic Forum – Agenda” stand upright. Behind, floor-to-ceiling windows reveal soft-focus greenery and traditional stone buildings. Gentle late-afternoon natural light fills the room, creating soft shadows and subtle reflections on the table. Photographic realism from a slightly elevated, eye-level angle, with a shallow depth of field that keeps the table in sharp focus while the background blurs, conveying a calm, professional, and constructive atmosphere suited to thoughtful local discussion.

Charter

Founded in 2024, the Forum meets regularly in Malmesbury to host public conversations, publish short briefings and support local initiatives, guided by a volunteer steering group and simple, transparent ground‑rules.

Read charter