Advocacy and Intervention Policy

The Future Leaders Fellows Development Network Advocacy and Intervention Policy

Version 1 – June 2025

The FLF Development Network is here to support you in a range of ways throughout your fellowship, including when you are facing challenging situations. If you are struggling with an issue, we can help you by:

Listening. We can provide a confidential one-to-one conversation to give you space to talk through the challenges you are facing, and we may be able to help you identify some options for moving forward. This might include directing you to our courses, coaching, or other resources.

Contextualising. Colleagues in the Network have decades of experience in research and innovation organisations, and we may be able to help you to see your situation in its wider context, e.g. institutional decision-making processes or drivers and policy shifts in the sector. In addition, our familiarity with the FLF scheme may also be useful in helping you to prepare a case to put forward to your host or other stakeholders, so that you can advocate for what you would like to happen.

Connecting. If you need help with a difficult situation, we can connect you with a coach, specialist adviser, or mentor whose expertise may help you plan your next steps. We may also be able to connect you with other FLFs who have navigated similar issues.

Our purpose is to help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to identify the path that is right for you, and move forward constructively and strategically.

It is outside the remit of the Development Network and beyond our professional competence to represent, intervene, or advocate for you: for example, we cannot negotiate on your behalf in disputes, mediate conflicts, or speak directly with your host organisation.

Please note that the Development Network is a legally separate entity from UKRI.