Our Circles
Strange Field operates through a sociocratic circle structure. Each circle has a clear purpose, lead, and domain. Decisions are made by consent within circles - by the people closest to the work.
For more on how decisions are made see → Reshaping How Power Moves
Govern
Aim: To ensure Strange Field operates with integrity, remains financially sustainable, and meets its legal and organisational responsibilities.
Strategy & Finance | Domain: Financial planning, budgets, expenditure, reporting, and strategic direction. |
Governance & HR | Domain: Recruitment, roles, flat pay structure, HR policy, sociocracy practice, and governance compliance. |
Trustees (not a decision making circle)
To hold Strange Field's vision, values and long-term direction, and ensure the organisation operates within agreed ethical and legal boundaries.
Trustees | Domain: Vision and strategic ends, organisational values, executive limitations, and legal accountability. Operational delivery sits with the team on the ground. |
Reclaim
To reclaim and maintain Strange Field's physical spaces as permanent community-rooted infrastructure.
Buildings | Domain: Day-to-day building management, maintenance, access, tenancy decisions, and long-term development of French Street and The Pipe Factory. |
Operations & Comms
To keep Strange Field running smoothly and communicating clearly across all areas of work.
Operations & Comms | Domain: Day-to-day operations, scheduling, internal and external communications, and organisational administration. |
Fundraising & Evaluation
To resource Strange Field's work honestly and demonstrate its impact in ways that reflect our values.
Fundraising and Evaluation | Domain: Funding applications, funder relationships, reporting, and evaluation frameworks across all four areas of work. |
Learn and Make
Programme Team
Aim: To hold a coherent and ambitious creative vision across Strange Field's programme activity.
Programme | Domain: Cross-programme decisions, artistic direction, scheduling, programme consistency, and delivery across LEARN and MAKE. |
Community Team*
Aim: To build a sustained structure through which the communities Strange Field works with can meaningfully shape decisions across all areas of the organisation — moving participation from consultation toward genuine co-governance.
Communtiy | Domain: Community engagement structures, participation frameworks, and cross-circle input from communities. |
*This circle is still being developed in dialogue with the communities themselves.
General Circle
The General Circle is a communication flow between circle delegates - not a decision making body. It coordinates across the whole organisation and keeps everyone aligned.