The Big Blether: Dundee Changemakers Gather to Share Ideas for the City’s Future

4 days ago
3 min read

Last night, inspiring Changemakers from across Dundee gathered at Dundee Science Centre for The Big Blether — an evening of connection, reflection, and shared imagination.

Community organisers, social innovators, creatives, and residents came together to celebrate what we’ve achieved through the Dundee Changemakers Hub over the past year and explore ideas for the year ahead.

The evening was filled with conversation, creativity, and the collective energy of people who care deeply about the future of Dundee.

Reimagining Dundee: Revisiting Our “What Ifs”

A highlight of the evening was revisiting the “what ifs” participants dreamed up during our session with Rob Hopkins last October.

We exhibited the conversation posters from that day, collages imagining Dundee’s future, and a beautiful illustration created by Cara Rooney, capturing the many ideas and possibilities that emerged.

Looking back at these visions reminded us how powerful community imagination can be when people are given the space to think boldly about the future of their city.

Community Projects Making Change in Dundee

We also heard from several Changemakers who have been turning ideas into action through projects supported by the Dundee Changemakers Hub.

Showcase included:

Nadege from Campy Growers
Aaron from Critical Mass
Emile, Anna and Carolina from Room to Be
Kate and Elaine from Ishka

Each shared inspiring examples of community-led action in Dundee, showing how small ideas can grow into projects that support wellbeing, connection, and creativity.

We’re incredibly proud to have supported these initiatives and look forward to seeing how they continue to grow.

Planting Ideas for Dundee’s Future

Throughout the evening, participants added their ideas, hopes, and ambitions for the city to our Possibilitrees.

If the saying is true that “from one small acorn, a mighty oak grows,” then together we’re planting an entire forest of possibilities for Dundee’s future.

Exploring New Ways to Value Community: Dundee Dots

During the event, Danielle shared about Dundee Dots, a pilot project exploring how communities might reimagine value beyond money.

Developed with local initiatives and businesses and led by Danielle and Darryl Gaffney Du Plooy, the project asks an important question:

What if we recognised and exchanged value in our communities in new ways?

Help Shape the Future of Dundee

We also discussed the Dundee Local Development Plan consultation, which offers residents an opportunity to influence how the city develops in the years ahead.

During a recent Skill Share session at The Maxwell Centre, we heard that ideas appearing frequently in consultation responses are more likely to be considered. To support this, our team has created a shared document where community members can explore and build on ideas together.

👉 Explore community ideas for the consultation

👉 Submit your own ideas to the Council consultation

(The form allows one idea per submission, but you can submit multiple responses if you have several ideas to share. The consultation closes on 31st March 2026.)

Learning How Communities Create Change

We also shared a preview of our community-led Learning and Evaluation project, where we explore how people across Dundee are creating change — and what we can learn from each other.

Soon we’ll be launching a new section of our website called “Making Change”, featuring interviews and stories from local Changemakers about their experiences of community action.

A Chance to Connect

We rounded off the evening with delicious food from Marwick’s Vegan Kitchen and plenty of time for conversation and connection.

Events like The Big Blether remind us that meaningful change starts with relationships, shared ideas, and the willingness to imagine something better together.