STEPHEN KEARNEY
of millennium funding for UnLtd - to support social entrepreneurs. Stephen and Julia then set about working on politician’s accountability, a subject close to Stephen’s heart, as he was a Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in Henley, Boris Johnson’s constituency before he became Mayor of London. He is a candidate for Tiverton and Honiton in the upcoming May election where he is developing a pioneering approach to the role of MP. He added. “Regenerate’s expertise in community engagement led to us becoming a senior partner of the National Community Organising Programme, which aims to make politicians more accountable and effective in their constituencies and shift power to local communities. So I felt it was important to apply it in my civic life.” “Politicians are hamstrung by a system that doesn’t work
for ordinary people and has failed society. MPs are often just papering over cracks and people are fed up. UKIP is then filling a power vacuum created by peoples’ own fears and a lack of real leadership at the grassroots. “MPs need to become facilitators for their communities, rather than puppets for the multi-nationals. They need to vote for their communities best interests, rather than the whips in Parliament. “Society is in such a mess and young people especially
are often not properly supported or engaged. The arts are a key way to wake people up to their responsibility to society and young people can more easily get involved. We found that when we set up the UK Youth Parliament using the arts.”
And young people are, for Stephen, potentially a large
part of the Radio Dart and Café Lounge scene, with plans afoot to work with the arts council to provide events and facilities for young musicians. Stephen and Julia moved to Dartmouth in 2007, and
initially lived on a boat. Julia’s brother is Chris Olsen, who ran Yachts of
Dartmouth and she’d always wanted a boat down here. Stephen added: “I’ve always been interested in boats too, and had a narrow boat in the Midlands. It was that, and Julia’s passion for sailing, that brought us to Dartmouth. “It’s such a peaceful existence here, so relaxing and so
many great places to walk, rest and think.” Stephen and Julia have another visionary project on the boil. They are seeking funding to berth the tall ship Kaskelot, in the harbour, to act as ambassador for Sail Trade, an entrepreneurial project to bring more business and jobs to the town. Stephen said: “I do not apologise for being visionary and
invite anyone for coffee in the Café Lounge to talk about Sail Trade and any other visionary ideas that could have an impact on long-term development in the town. “We’ve already made Radio Dart and the Café Lounge vision a reality so would love to do more. We want to be pioneering and encourage the next generation to be entrepreneurial, stay in Devon and be pioneering too.” For more information see
www.radiodart.net and www.
sailtrade.co.uk and
www.peoplepioneers.org , Interview by Kate Cotton
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