Common Futures Conversations 2026

Are you tired of feeling disconnected from politics? Do you want to share your views on the major issues shaping our world? Would you like to connect with other young people around the world?

If so, then please read on!

Young people are often not trusted as leaders or seen as experts in their own right. In response, Chatham House has been building a diverse community of young people to join an international dialogue and connect with one another and policymakers to make their voices heard.

Common Futures Conversations (CFC) is an initiative of the QEII Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation that strives to create a community of young leaders and involve them and their ideas in major policy discussions. The online platform was created with a network of 27 young people from 13 countries, building on a survey co-created by youth and Chatham House researchers and conducted in January 2019. You can read more about the project and the survey here. Since then, CFC has engaged over 2,000 young people from 120+ countries. CFC regularly engages in discussions with high-level individuals from national governments and regional organisations including the African Union and European Union.

What does joining the CFC community mean?

CFC participants take part in online "challenges", which are monthly dialogues on specific policy topics which allow participants to engage with Chatham House experts and research and develop their own ideas about these areas. We recommend a time commitment of 1-2 hours per week to ensure you get the most out of being part of CFC. This will consist of:

• Discussions on our online platform

• Monthly CFC-specific events

• Access to Chatham House events and research

You may also be invited to participate in other Chatham House events and opportunities outside of CFC programming.

Successful applicants will be invited to join CFC for a one-year period. Individuals who have a consistent record of substantial engagement in the community may be invited to extend their participation in CFC for another year (if they are still aged 30 or under).

Who are we looking for?

You are/have:

• Aged between 18 and 30 years old

• Good working knowledge of English

• Passionate, engaged and active in your local community

We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics. We aim to build a community that is as inclusive as possible and encourage applications from anyone who wants to make a difference in their community! You will not be required to have specific academic qualifications or have experience in or a career in policy.

Application process

Please fill out the application form in English to register your interest in taking part. Please use an email address that you will have long-term access to (if possible, not a university email).

Application deadline: Friday, 23 January 2026 (11:59 pm GMT). You will be notified of your application outcome within 4 weeks of the closing date.

Participation in the community is voluntary.