Goldsmiths renews Civic University Agreement to deepen local partnerships

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We have renewed our Civic University Agreement with local partners, reaffirming our long-term commitment to the borough’s people, communities and economy.

A group of people by a table. A woman behind the table talks to a woman who is holding a notepad and pen. Two people in the background holding food. — Festival of Migration event at the Albany in 2025. Credit: Lloyd Sturdy.

First launched in 2021 as a partnership between Goldsmiths and 11 other local anchor institutions, including Lewisham Council and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, the refreshed Civic University Agreement (CUA) sets out how Goldsmiths will continue to work with local partners on shared priorities – from education and skills to culture, inclusion and place-making.

Welcoming new partners

The new agreement benefits from two new partners, South East London Integrated Care Board and Future Arts Centres – a network of over 180 arts organisations across the UK, including founding member the Albany, based in Deptford. Future Arts Centres joins as an associate member, helping us to align our local civic work with a national perspective, exploring how our work in South East London resonates with issues impacting towns and cities right across the UK.

Goals for the coming years

The refreshed Civic University Agreement focuses on a set of shared goals for the coming years, including:

Strengthening education pathways and skills: Working with schools, colleges and community providers to create clearer routes into higher education, training and good work – particularly for young people and adults who are traditionally under‑represented at university.
Supporting places and high streets in transition: Developing Goldsmiths’ new presence in Catford as part of wider regeneration efforts, working with Lewisham Council to bring learning, culture and footfall into an area facing serious social and economic challenges.
Backing communities through research and creativity: Using Goldsmiths’ research strengths in areas like creative industries, migration, social policy and community organising to co‑design projects with local partners that respond to Lewisham’s real‑world needs.
Acting as a responsible civic anchor in hard times: Recognising that universities and many public bodies are under pressure, the agreement commits partners to working together to address shared priorities, acknowledging constraints but seeking to address them through the power of partnership.

Impact so far

Looking back over the lifetime of the first agreement, Goldsmiths and our partners have:

Expanded routes into higher education – including opening up more progression pathways for local students, such as those studying T Levels and further education at Lewisham College, where Goldsmiths hosts work placements and outreach activity.
Supported Lewisham’s cultural and creative life – working with local institutions and community organisations to sustain the borough’s reputation for creativity and public engagement, including as part of Lewisham’s year as London Borough of Culture in 2022.
Contributed to the local economy – recent analysis of Goldsmiths’ gross value added (GVA) has shown that the university makes a substantial contribution to jobs, skills and spending in Lewisham, supporting local businesses and supply chains. The CUA has fostered a range of business support, placemaking and other activities aimed at boosting local growth.
Backed Lewisham as a Borough of Sanctuary – through research, teaching and engagement projects focused on migration and social justice, and by developing the new Migrant Futures Institute, which is rooted in both world-class research and local civic engagement.
Supported better mental health in the borough – via the creation of a new free therapeutic service – Intercultural Therapy at Goldsmiths. This initiative is run by Goldsmiths in partnership with NHS South East London and Lewisham Integrated Care Board, and services are delivered at no cost to members of the Lewisham community by Goldsmiths postgraduate diploma and masters therapies students on placement.
Explored innovative solutions to the housing crisis – via Melfield Gardens, a partnership between Goldsmiths and Phoenix Community Housing which sees Goldsmiths students delivering workshops and activities for older residents as part of a highly innovative intergenerational housing project.

Partners have also worked together on widening participation, youth opportunities and public events that bring residents, students and staff into conversation on the big issues facing the borough.

Interim Vice-Chancellor, Professor David Oswell, said, "I am delighted that we are refreshing and renewing our Civic University Agreement for 2026."

Goldsmiths has a proud history as an anchor institution for Lewisham and South East London, and now more than ever it is vital that we work with our partners to ensure that we are focused on addressing ever-evolving social challenges. In challenging political times, collaboration is key to driving positive social change in our local area and beyond.

Professor David Oswell, Interim Vice-Chancellor

Jennifer Daothong, Chief Executive of Lewisham Council, added: "Goldsmiths is an important partner in Lewisham, and we look forward to working with them – and other local organisations – to tackle some of our shared priorities over the coming months and years, via the renewed Civic University Agreement. Looking ahead, the principles of the CUA will be brought to life next year when Goldsmiths move some of their courses to the Old Town Hall, next to our offices in Catford, bringing further opportunities for us to strengthen our collaboration and anchor creativity, learning and opportunity in the civic heart of our borough."

Find out more about the renewed Civic University Agreement