PHASE 01🍹
GET IN.
GET COMFY.
Arrive at an independent London pub, grab a drink and discover the local makers and small businesses joining us for the evening.
NO AWKWARD ICEBREAKERS. PROMISE. THE MAJORITY VOTE PRESENTS CASE NO. AKE-001
A LONDON EXPERIMENT IN PEOPLE + POSSIBILITIES
THE BEST IDEAS
AREN'T SECRET.
THE ROOMS ARE.
We are opening the door. AKE — Actual Knowledge Exchange is a playful networking night in a London pub, where four people at a table can turn a passing thought into a proper project.
EST. IN CURIOSITYLOST IDEAS: 0 (HOPEFULLY)STATUS: IN THE WORKS
FILE 004 / THE GOOD STUFF
CONFIDENTIAL(ISH)
ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ✳
FOUR STRANGERS.ONE TABLE.ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
NO
GATEKEEPING
ALLOWED
GATEKEEPING
ALLOWED
KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER SHARED ★ NO BORING NAME BADGES ★ BIG IDEAS / SMALL TABLES ★ EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO BRING ★ KNOWLEDGE IS BETTER SHARED ★ NO BORING NAME BADGES ★ BIG IDEAS / SMALL TABLES ★
01 / THE ARCHIVEACCESS LEVEL: EVERYONE
PULL A TAB. FIND OUT MORE.
THE SECRET
DRAWER.
Only it's not much of a secret. Every file is yours to open. Click a tab to uncover the people, the plan, or how to make something of your own.
THE MAJORITY VOTE / AKE DEPARTMENTOPEN ACCESS RECORDS — VOL. 001
✳ OPEN, SHARE, REMIXPROPERTY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY DO THE THING
↑ THE DRAWERS OPEN IN THE CENTRE OF YOUR SCREEN. NO TREASURE MAP REQUIRED.
02 / THE PLANLONDON PUB // DATE + VENUE TO BE DECIDED
THE EVENING, DECLASSIFIED
A PUB NIGHT.
WITH PURPOSE.
AND A QUIZ.
Forget awkward lanyards, sales pitches and standing alone near the crisps. Bring a project, a problem, a cause, a half-formed idea — or just your curiosity.
We’ll introduce you to people you might never otherwise meet, then give you a reason to actually make something together.
HELP CHOOSE THE NEXT ONE ↗GET IN.
PHASE 02◉
FOUR TO
A TABLE.
We pair people into groups of four for short, guided conversations. Share a real challenge or project, hear four different perspectives, then rotate.
PEOPLE'S RESEARCH CAFÉ ENERGY.PHASE 03✳
THE BIG
HACK-IT.
Everyone joins a fun collaborative sprint. Pick a challenge, sketch out a solution and leave with something more useful than a business card.
BIG THINKING. LOW PRESSURE.PHASE 04★
QUIZ. CHAT.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Interactive quiz rounds, a little friendly competition, more drinks, and a chance to find the people who want to keep building with you.
ACTUAL CONNECTIONS > CONTACTS.RECEIPT / THE PLAN SO FARNOT A TICKET CHECKOUT
01 / PROPOSED TICKET£20 → £20
The plan: your £20 entry becomes £20 credit toward drinks at the host pub, subject to the venue agreement.
02 / LOCAL LOVESMALL
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
Make room for local independent businesses to showcase or sell their brilliant things during the event.
03 / KEEP IT GOING£1 OF PROFIT
The intention is for £1 of the event's profit to go back into The Majority Vote, helping future ideas happen.
This is the proposed pilot format, not a confirmed event or a live ticket sale. Final ticket terms, venue, partners and timings will be confirmed before bookings open.
03 / HOW THE MAGIC HAPPENSNOT A PITCH COMPETITION
EXHIBIT B: ONE TABLE / FOUR POINTS OF VIEW
THE VERY BEST IDEA MIGHT NOT COME FROM THE EXPERT IN THE ROOM.
LESS “SO,
WHAT DO YOU DO?”
MORE “WHAT
COULD WE DO?”
Picture a People’s Research Café after work. A researcher, a designer, someone from the voluntary sector and someone with lived experience land at the same table. They discuss an actual problem — not each other’s job titles.
After a few rounds, we bring the room together for a fast, hands-on “hack-it”. You can leave with new thinking, collaborators, a prototype or simply the confidence to try.
YOU DON'T NEED A PERFECT IDEA TO GET A SEAT.
04 / AN UNSIGNED LETTERFROM THE PERSON BEHIND THE FILES
SUBJECT: THE FOUNDER
?IDENTITY:
LESS IMPORTANT
THAN THE IDEA
LESS IMPORTANT
THAN THE IDEA
SEEN IN: RESEARCH ROOMS / COMMUNITY SPACES / MEETINGS THAT COULD BE EMAILS
WHY SHOULD THE PERSON WITH THE RIGHT JOB TITLE HAVE ALL THE FUN?
A NOTE FOUND INSIDE THE DRAWERI'VE BEEN IN
I'VE BEEN IN
A FEW ROOMS…
Health and research spaces. Youth panels. Voluntary-sector projects. Meetings about making services better. Places where people talk a lot about engagement, co-production and change.
I've helped bring people together, put overlooked voices in the conversation, gather evidence, and turn big discussions into something practical. And I've met so many people with genuinely wonderful ideas who were never handed the keys to get them moving.
So here's the point. You shouldn't need a fancy title, a personal introduction, or somebody else's permission to find your people and build your thing.
AKE is one experiment in changing that. The free project files below are another. Consider this an invitation to make your own magic — whether or not we ever meet.
SEE YOU AROUND THE TABLE, THE FOUNDER ✳
05 / THE BALLOT BOXYOUR PREFERENCE. OUR NEXT CLUE.
DEMOCRACY, BUT MAKE IT A PUB NIGHT.
THE PEOPLE
HAVE A VOTE.
Which date works? What part of London? What kind of conversations do you want at AKE? Vote now to help us work out the pilot.
OPEN BALLOTNOT A TICKET OR BOOKING
You can help shape the plan without committing to attend. Options are suggestions, not confirmed bookings.
THE MAJORITY VOTE / FORM AKE-01● BALLOT OPEN
Help shape the first AKE
Three questions. No lanyard required.
YOUR VOTE IS FILED.
Thank you for helping decide what happens next.
0 votesEARLY RESULTS / NOT FINAL
06 / THE BOTTOM DRAWERYES, YOU CAN TAKE THESE HOME.
OPEN
SOURCE
ENERGY ↗THE
SOURCE
ENERGY ↗
THE
UNLOCKED
DRAWER.
You don't have to wait for an invite, funding contact or networking event to get your project moving. These starter files are free to use, adapt and make completely your own.
READ THE TOOLKIT GUIDE ↗001 / WORD TEMPLATEFUNDING / BIDSTHE
FUNDING
FILE.Editable Word proposal & grant bid templateDOWNLOAD .DOCX ↗002 / EXCEL TEMPLATEMONEY / COSTSTHE
MONEY
MAP.Budget, income and funding trackerDOWNLOAD .XLSX ↗003 / WORD TEMPLATEIDEA / IMPACTTHE
FIRST
MOVE.Project canvas, partners, risks and action planDOWNLOAD .DOCX ↗
FUNDING
FILE.Editable Word proposal & grant bid templateDOWNLOAD .DOCX ↗002 / EXCEL TEMPLATEMONEY / COSTSTHE
MONEY
MAP.Budget, income and funding trackerDOWNLOAD .XLSX ↗003 / WORD TEMPLATEIDEA / IMPACTTHE
FIRST
MOVE.Project canvas, partners, risks and action planDOWNLOAD .DOCX ↗
GOOD IDEAS SHOULDN'T LIVE IN LOCKED CABINETS.
MADE SOMETHING? SHOW US ↗07 / BEFORE YOU ASKTHE QUESTIONS WE'RE EXPECTING
SMALL PRINT.
BIG ENERGY.
Everything you need to know before you wander into the room.
Who is AKE actually for? +
People with interests, projects and ideas: researchers, creatives, charity folk, professionals, students, business owners and anyone curious about making something better. You don't need a perfect CV or an existing project.
Is this networking, research or a workshop? +
A bit of all three. Think structured mini-conversations inspired by People’s Research Cafés, followed by a playful group problem-solving session and a quiz. The aim is genuine connection, not a sales pitch.
Is the date, venue or ticket live yet? +
No. We're gathering preferences for a pilot at an independent London pub. The £20 drinks-credit structure is a proposal and depends on the final venue agreement. Voting does not reserve a space.
Can I come alone or without a project? +
Absolutely. Groups are organised for you, and we'll use prompts to get conversations moving. Curiosity counts as bringing something to the table.
Can my small business or organisation join? +
Yes — we're keen to hear from independent pubs, local makers, VCFSE organisations and people with challenges or projects to share. Email us and tell us what you're dreaming up.