- Date
-
Next likely start date: September 2025
More information below
- Location
- Hybrid learning, in person and online
- Price
- £3,800 +VAT
- Duration
- Four modules over one year
- Contact
- Speak to the team
Emerging from the restructure of our flagship Athena leadership programme, the Circles programme is designed to respond to the unique and diverse leadership challenges facing women working and leading in health and social care in the 21st century.
Bringing together women and those who identify as women from across the health and social care system, the Circles programme offers an opportunity to learn together and to support each other to develop, irrespective of role, seniority or experience.
Testimonials
It's been a mind-opening, thought provoking, gently powerful programme. The way I approach my leadership role has been strengthened through participating in the programme. Useful frameworks to shape thinking, bringing the personal touch, and heightened awareness of perspectives, differences as well as seeking to find the common ground and the collective good.
Professor of Health and Care Economics, University of York
Programme principles
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Circles is an acronym of the programme’s underlying principles and symbolises the cycles of experience and learning around which the programme is designed.
The circle also symbolises interconnectedness, a characteristic that speaks to our intention to draw on ways of knowing beyond the Western philosophies that typically dominate leadership development. Read more about how we re-imagined Athena's leadership development programme in our blog from Mandip Randhawa and Simon Newitt.
What will I learn on the Circles programme?
By completing the Circles programme, you will:
develop an intersectional understanding of gender in group relations, organisations, leadership and social structures
build on your critical thinking, emotional self-awareness, accountability, moral courage and creativity
grow your transferable leadership skills and build confidence to use them to enact positive change in the health and care system
develop an activist mindset and the ability to notice and challenge injustice in the workplace and beyond
help cultivate a culture of care among your peers on the programme, expanding your professional and personal networks and support structures in a movement of and for women across the health and care system.
Is the Circles programme for me?
This programme has been designed for women, including transgender women, at any stage of their leadership journey.
The programme aims to create a diverse community of women who will develop their leadership collectively, irrespective of their status or job title, so if the intention of the programme interests you, then the course is for you.
We are especially keen to work with women:
from racial and ethnic minority groups
who are LGBTQ+
with disabilities
from areas of deprivation
from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
Programme team
-
)
Naja Felter
Senior Consultant -
)
Sharon Nash
Senior Consultant -
)
Judith Osorio
Programme Co-ordinator -
)
Kiran Chauhan
Senior Consultant
Programme structure
For full programme structure information, please download our programme leaflet.
The Circles programme is organised around four seasons of work over 12 months. Most of the learning is delivered online, with the addition of two in-person sessions.
In each of the four seasons, learners will commit to:
three half-day workshops with guest speakers/facilitators (online)
two 90-minute facilitated learning reviews with The King’s Fund faculty (online).
Other commitments over the course of the year include:
participation in opening and closing events at The King’s Fund
a one-to-one virtual coaching session
self-directed engagement in learning materials
ongoing personal journaling
participation in quarterly community-building sessions with up to five other participants
contributing to the production of a cohort yearbook.
Pricing and dates
The 2024-2025 cohort of Circles is now full. If you would like to receive details about the next cohort, likely starting in September 2025, please join the waiting list.
For full programme structure information, please download our programme leaflet.
Next available start date:
TBC, but likely September 2025
Price: TBC. As a guideline the 2024 cost was £3,800 +VAT
A limited number of bursaries will be available to those in early-career positions. We particularly welcome applications from women from minoritised groups.
Frequently asked questions
Got a question about the programmes? Go to our frequently asked questions.
Waiting list
Complete the Circles waiting list form and we will get back in touch once details of the next cohort have been confirmed.
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