James Goodman

James is Director of Partnerships and Learning at Local Trust, a place-based community funder. Through the Big Local programme, Local Trust provides long-term unrestricted funding to 150 neighbourhoods across England and works with government and other institutions to make the case for a redistribution of power and resources to a hyper-local level. James is responsible for external partnerships, capacity building and strategic support for the communities Local Trust funds, as well as the programme of research that evaluates the successes and challenges of this kind of funding approach. James has worked with community groups to increase engagement with the climate crisis and is passionate about finding ways for people to lead the response to the climate emergency.

Previously James was Director of Futures at Forum for the Future, a sustainability non-profit, where he used foresight and long term planning approaches to help transform business and ngos. James likes running, walking and travelling by train, watches the odd bird and writes poetry. His second book of poems tackles the eco-apocalypse head-on and makes a big deal out of woodpigeons.