Skip to content
Course

Circles programme

Leadership development for women

Date

September 2025-July 2026
More information below

Location
Hybrid learning, in person and online
Price
£3,900 +VAT
Duration
Regular sessions over one year
Contact

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.

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 principles

Graphic showing the principles of the Circles programme - collective, intersectional, radical, critical, loving, engaged and solidarity.

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.

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 team

Programme structure

For full programme structure information, please download our programme leaflet.

The Circles programme is organised around four seasons of work over a year. In each of these 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).

In addition, there will be in-person sessions at the beginning and end of the programme to consolidate learning.

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 

Pricing and dates

The next cohort will run from September 2025–July 2026. For full list of dates and additional information, download our programme leaflet.

Price: £3,900 +VAT
A limited number of bursaries will be available:

  • Full bursaries are available for women working at registered charities with an annual income under £3 million (ie not the NHS). Charities must be registered in the UK and their work should be focused on health and care issues.

  • Partial bursaries (50% off the cost of the course) are 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.

If you'd like to speak to the team:

Course

Circles programme

Complete our Circles application form and one of our programme co-ordinators will be in touch to discuss the next steps

Apply today