The Network's National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) comes to a planned close at the end of 2025, after three years of intensive work to accelerate the UK's civic university movement.

Over the last 6 years, Sheffield Hallam University has been proud to lead the National Civic Impact Accelerator (NCIA) and steward the Civic University Network, working with a range of strategic partners across the UK to strengthen universities' civic missions. Drawing on Research England investment, the programme has supported 14 action learning partnerships, produced over 20 publications, 10 practical tools and the Civic Field Guide, and convened national conferences, events, podcasts and blogs to share learning across the sector.​

This work has helped to build a robust evidence base, a suite of practical resources and a vibrant community of practice around civic engagement, positioning the UK as a leader in civic university thinking and influencing national policy debates on universities' civic role.

As the NCIA concludes as planned in December 2025, Sheffield Hallam is now passing the mantle to a new consortium who will carry the Civic University Network forward into its next chapter, ensuring that the network, its assets and its impact continue to grow in the years ahead.

"Over the last six years, it has been a privilege to work alongside colleagues and partners across the UK who believe so deeply in the civic role of universities. Together, we have built a stronger evidence base, practical tools and a network of relationships that will outlast any single programme, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved. As Sheffield Hallam passes the mantle to a new consortium, I am grateful to everyone who has contributed their time, energy and imagination to this movement, and excited to see how the Civic University Network continues to grow in its next chapter."

Adam Leach, NCIA Programme Director

A consortium currently made up of founding partners: Queen Mary University of London, the University of Birmingham, Newcastle University and the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) has agreed to sustain the work of the Civic University Network (CUN) and NCIA.

Initially the partners have committed a small strategic fund (cash and in-kind) to help the network transition to a new operating model, with a three-year planning window.

The consortium will seek to:

  • Sustain the network of people already connected to the NCIA and CUN through communications and networking activity
  • Maintain the NCIA / CUN assets and website for two years in readiness for a relaunched civic communications platform
  • Encourage all Government Departments to recognise the civic role of universities and the tangible economic and social benefits it delivers.
  • Develop a long-term sustainability model to take the civic work forward.

The partners will form a Civic Network Steering Group (CNSG) made up initially of staff from the founding partners committing to this next phase of work.

Key questions we will be exploring:

  • Where next for Civic – how can we build on the work achieved to date, while refreshing the framing and focus of the civic movement?
  • How do we accelerate capacity building and leadership of civic practice and strategy, and build our evaluative expertise to better capture the collective impact of our work?
  • How can we strengthen connections with organisations outside HE with an equal commitment to place-based civic practice?
  • Who else do we need to connect with inside HE – there is a proliferation of policy developments in the civic space: place-based working; inclusion; culture; engagement and impact. And several new networks and investments operating in this territory. How do we build purposeful connections to align and amplify our ambitions?
  • What support is needed (by whom) to meet civic partnerships' ambitions and needs?

What this will look like:

The partnership will:

  • Host the CUN network (NCCPE) – members of the CUN will be invited to join a new 'mailing list' hosted by the NCCPE
  • Run online events for CUN network members – showcasing practice, and offering opportunities to reflect on opportunities and challenges
  • Support a civic knowledge CoP (NCCPE) – the first event of which will be on December 11th, 2025.
  • Encourage others to host relevant events and CoP as part of the network.
  • Inform Government policy on the civic role of universities and how this can be optimised.
  • Progress research into the future of civic.
  • Seek additional partnerships to support the CUN development in the future
  • Explore the potential for a sustained business model for the CUN which covers the costs of running a national network

How you can get involved

Individuals:

  • Make sure you join the new CUN mailing list by subscribing to the Civic Universities JISCMail.
  • Please note the current CUN mailing list will cease to function from 30 December 2025.

Organisations:

  • Consider if your organisation would like to become a strategic partner of the network. To be a strategic partner, each organisation would be expected to contribute to the strategic fund and "in kind" support, and would be a member of the Civic Network Steering Group Consider if your organisation would like to support the CUN e.g. through offering to host an event, or a COP.

Organisations who would like to get involved, please contact: Gemma Adams at nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk