It’s party time! Summer is here and we are celebrating 20 years of Citadel, founded in August 2005.
O is for Opportunity
The Government’s stated mission is to break down barriers to opportunity. This is a critical plank of policies to tackle structural and systemic challenges of disadvantage, discrimination and marginalisation. A levelling playing field, just as the last government talked about levelling-up.
N is for Nation
A nation can be defined by its people, as a community and society of shared values and common cultures, and by its political standing as a sovereign state with its own borders, government and international recognition.
M is for Media
In an age of digital media, influencers and counter-factual truth, why bother with “the mainstream media”? As world leaders use the megaphone of social media and algorithms skew where you are heard, and what you see, polemic views gain ground and click bait headlines dilute political discourse.
L is for Listening
Learn to bite your tongue. Resist a ready quip at someone else’s expense. No insults are permitted. Avoid exaggeration and boasting – arrogance isn’t a pretty sight and jars on hearing. Instead, stop and listen, you may learn something new from those you work with and for.
K is for Kindness
Try hard, be kind. That’s a motto to live by. It’s one that, if applied to public service, would bring an end to the pernicious politics of blame, shame and hate.
J is for Jonathan
With Citadel turning 20 this year, it felt only right to dedicate blog J to our founder, Jonathan Hopkins. Although many of you may know him through work or from what you can read on our website, this blog will explore the paths he has taken, both professionally and personally, to end up where Citadel stands 20 years later.
I is for Inquiry
An inquiring mind is essential for effective public affairs and good policy making. It is to value curiosity and understand better how things work, to evidence what works well, and determine what good looks like. It means not to take things on face value and to look past any political spin.
H is for Home
Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes. That’s a place where you can be yourself, somewhere you feel you belong. Finding a good home that is safe and secure with family, friends or neighbours to lean on for emotional support and compassion.
G is for Grounded
Effective public affairs is realistic in its goals, managing expectations when world events create turbulence and uncertainty. Yet bold in what can be achieved, by building reputations and relationships that can be sustained over time.
Citadel 