The John Smith Memorial Trust

The John Smith Memorial Trust was formed in 1996 to provide a permanent memorial to one of Britain's best-loved politicians, who died suddenly in May 1994. Less than two years into the leadership of the Labour Party when he died, John Smith was held in high affection by many within and outside the Labour Party, not least because of the obvious sincerity with which he promoted the ideals of democracy, social justice and good governance.

The aim of the Trust is to honour him by promoting the ideals that he held dear. The Trust is a registered Charity, not a party-political organisation; we have active support from all the major parties in the UK, and from many people and groups who are not active in politics.  We have an open door to Fellows from all political backgrounds in the countries where we operate.

The Trust established the John Smith Fellowship Programme also in 1996. It is aimed at the next generation of leaders in a number of the independent republics that were previously part of the Soviet Union - young people of proven ability and real attainments, regardless of their political background.

Mission

The John Smith Memorial Trust was established in 1996 as a non-political Charity, with the following objects:

"To advance education of the public in political sciences, in particular in relation to democratic systems of government, by (1) awarding grants to enable recipients to study political, judicial, constitutional and other relative institutions and procedures which are commonly established in democratic countries and to study the operation of such institutions and procedures upon the communities they serve;(2) provision of lectures, conferences, seminars, publications etc."

We promote these objects by bringing young people of clear and high potential to the United Kingdom to observe and experience our democratic systems, institutions and practices at first hand.  We encourage the Fellows to form lasting friendships and contacts with each other, with Fellows from other years, and especially with those whom they meet and work with in the U.K.

The John Smith Fellowship Programme enables young leaders to see at first hand how, in the United Kingdom, we try to move towards the goals of social justice by pragmatic methods tested and endorsed by democratic practices. We do not try to preach to them how they should apply in their own countries what they have learned: we encourage them to challenge and criticise what they see in our society and to think for themselves how, if at all, the practices and systems they find worthy of respect can be modified and applied to their own situations.

Core funding for the Programme is provided by the Ministry of Justice. The British Council works with and under contract to the Trust in providing administrative and organisational assistance and services to our Fellowship Programme.

In addition our many sponsors and Fellowship hosts contribute to its value enormously. Our Trustees are personally involved in the Programme.

The Fellowship Programme

What it is

The John Smith Fellowship Programme is an intensive, five-week programme on good governance, democracy and social justice.  It is aimed at the next generation of leaders in independent republics that were formerly part of the former Soviet Union - young people working in politics, local government or civil society with an established interest in promoting democratic reform and proven ability. Those who complete the Programme are known as 'Fellows'.

The Fellowship Programme is not a short-term scholarship, but a life-changing experience which brings new perspectives, long-term friendships, and a lifetime commitment to good governance.

The Programme lasts for five weeks in the UK and is made up as follows:

• An introductory session in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• An intensive, two-week Seminar Series on the political process in a mature democracy: A series of discussions and meetings with senior academics and practitioners combined with visits to illustrate how public policy is made and developed. More details about the Seminar Series.
• Planning and preparation of "individual action plans" setting out how insights gained in the UK can be turned into concrete developments applied at home.
• A weekend conference on the role of the media in a democracy; providing an opportunity to explore issues of mutual interest and concern with invited guests from the UK. More details about the Weekend Retreat.
• Two weeks of individual attachments to suitable organisations - for example, working with an NGO, "shadowing" a politician, a placement in central government, local administration or the media. More details about Individual Attachments.
• A final week in London with visits to Parliament and other institutions, and opportunities to analyse collective experience.
• A concluding seminar during which Fellows present their projects to representatives of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the John Smith Memorial Trust and the British Council.

In the following year, a Follow-Up Conference in one of the Fellowship countries brings all Fellows together to report on their activities and compare progress.

Its Aims

The Programme is designed to show that democracy of the kind that has evolved in the United Kingdom has become a successful tool for securing good governance, for making the Rule of Law effective, for advancing the citizens' human and legal rights, for empowering disadvantaged groups and for giving a voice to those who currently lack political influence. We do not suggest that it is perfect, merely that it works well in our country.

Its Methods

The Fellows are invited to consider how the institutions and practices that they study in the United Kingdom might be adapted for use in their own communities where the traditions and the problems are different.. Above all, the Programme seeks to show that in a true democracy the spirit in which institutions are operated is vitally important.