About
Matthew curating the Communicating Radical Hope in an era of poly-crisis conference that he designed and delivered at the Inner Temple, London, in April 2025.
Matthew Barber-Rowell is the Founder of Spaces of Hope.
Over the last 15 years, as a portfolio executive and independent scholar, Matthew has pioneered a new interdisciplinary paradigm and consultative methodology for organisations. This work was brought together through his PhD from Goldsmiths, University of London and it is called Curating Spaces of Hope. Spaces of Hope is being applied and developed in new and diverse context, primarily in the north of England in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester. There are also specific applications through work with the Diocese of Manchester, the William Temple Foundation, Northern Network, with the Susanna Wesley Foundation through the development of Leadership training resources, and with Virginia Theological Seminary. Spaces of Hope is also being applied digital networks around the world. Recent successes include the development of the Radical campaign which has developed in conjunction with the William Temple Foundation, and additional partners from Matthew's work in the north west of England, including the representatives from the Diocese of Salford, Manchester Cathedral, the Gramsci Society, Global Collaboration Institute, the Hizmet Movement and St Joseph's University, Macao.
In March 2025, Matthew’s first monograph Curating Spaces of Hope: Transformational Leadership for Uncertain Times was published by SCM Press. This book has been described by the Chair of the William Temple Foundation as,“reinterpreting or even reinventing the Temple legacy for this century … offering plenty of lessons … for all leaders, all institutions and all who think they are on the peripheries”. Stephen Timms MP said “[the] well-narrated experiences and detailed arguments offer an encouraging and hopeful case for the transformative leadership that he commends”. President of Virginia Theological Seminary Ian Markham said “This is a pioneering book of exceptional erudition … It is an exercise in Christian social ethics that could be defining for the moment in which we live. A must read”.
Since the launch of the first book about Spaces of Hope, a new phase of our work has begun. In 2025, we will be touring with the book in the North of England, North America, and other selected locations, based on where we are invited to go. With support from the Susanna Wesley Foundation, Spaces of Hope will be piloting leadership resources, which will allow the delivery of Spaces of Hope in new contexts with diverse groups of leaders seeking to combat the poly-crisis. This will set the tone for our work running up the next election in 2028 in the UK and the USA. For more about our work checkout the Recommendations page, and to buy there Spaces of Hope book, head over to our book store where you will find a 20% Sale.
You can also get in touch by email
Over the last 15 years, as a portfolio executive and independent scholar, Matthew has pioneered a new interdisciplinary paradigm and consultative methodology for organisations. This work was brought together through his PhD from Goldsmiths, University of London and it is called Curating Spaces of Hope. Spaces of Hope is being applied and developed in new and diverse context, primarily in the north of England in Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester. There are also specific applications through work with the Diocese of Manchester, the William Temple Foundation, Northern Network, with the Susanna Wesley Foundation through the development of Leadership training resources, and with Virginia Theological Seminary. Spaces of Hope is also being applied digital networks around the world. Recent successes include the development of the Radical campaign which has developed in conjunction with the William Temple Foundation, and additional partners from Matthew's work in the north west of England, including the representatives from the Diocese of Salford, Manchester Cathedral, the Gramsci Society, Global Collaboration Institute, the Hizmet Movement and St Joseph's University, Macao.
In March 2025, Matthew’s first monograph Curating Spaces of Hope: Transformational Leadership for Uncertain Times was published by SCM Press. This book has been described by the Chair of the William Temple Foundation as,“reinterpreting or even reinventing the Temple legacy for this century … offering plenty of lessons … for all leaders, all institutions and all who think they are on the peripheries”. Stephen Timms MP said “[the] well-narrated experiences and detailed arguments offer an encouraging and hopeful case for the transformative leadership that he commends”. President of Virginia Theological Seminary Ian Markham said “This is a pioneering book of exceptional erudition … It is an exercise in Christian social ethics that could be defining for the moment in which we live. A must read”.
Since the launch of the first book about Spaces of Hope, a new phase of our work has begun. In 2025, we will be touring with the book in the North of England, North America, and other selected locations, based on where we are invited to go. With support from the Susanna Wesley Foundation, Spaces of Hope will be piloting leadership resources, which will allow the delivery of Spaces of Hope in new contexts with diverse groups of leaders seeking to combat the poly-crisis. This will set the tone for our work running up the next election in 2028 in the UK and the USA. For more about our work checkout the Recommendations page, and to buy there Spaces of Hope book, head over to our book store where you will find a 20% Sale.
You can also get in touch by email
We work with a wide variety of partners from across the public square. A selection of these are shared here. If you want to discuss a project you think we could help with, get in touch.
