And that’s a wrap. Day Three brought Anthropy25 to a close and with it, a remarkable week of ideas, ambition and genuine connection.
From Angela Rippon leading a spontaneous conga line of senior leaders through the Eden biomes, to the first ever political leader attending Anthropy in its history, this year’s event continued to break new ground and open up space for the conversations that matter.
This was our first time at Anthropy and our first year as official communications partner. It’s been a privilege to help tell the story of Anthropy25, to capture the energy of the event, and to support the team in shining a light on the voices, themes and ideas shaping this community.
Across 225 sessions, with 596 speakers and nearly 2,000 attendees, those conversations spanned climate, culture, education, health, housing, leadership and more. Over 22,500 connections were made in the app, and more than 19,000 messages exchanged, proof that people weren’t just attending; they were engaging.
Day Three put the spotlight on one of the most pressing and culturally relevant themes of the moment, particularly with breakout show Adolescence dominating the national conversation, the future of masculinity. Two standout sessions were so highly attended that people were queuing out the door.
The first, What does it take to be a man? tackled the rising tide of misogyny and online harm, questioning what healthy masculinity should look like in the 21st century. Speakers included Dan Allchurch (Talk Consent), Donald Mbeutcha (Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation), Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE (Ploughshare Innovations), Katie White (Enough) and Lee Chambers (Male Allies UK). The panel didn’t shy away from the complexities, but also pushed for a reframing, one built on empathy, responsibility, and the opportunity to support young men in becoming a force for positive cultural change.
Later in the day, Hope not Tate: solutions to the boys and young men crisis, brought together Ceylon Andi Hickman (Football Beyond Borders), Duro Oye (20/20 Levels), David Harland (Lost Gardens of Heligan), Dan Allchurch (Talk Consent) and Thurstan Crockett (A Band of Brothers). The panel explored what positive male identity can look like today, and how we build the conditions for young men and boys to grow, thrive and lead with purpose. It was a practical, optimistic and grounded discussion, focused less on the scale of the issue, and more on the solutions already in motion.
The day ended with That Was the Week That Was, Anthropy’s final wrap-up event and a moment to reflect on everything that had unfolded across the three days. Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO CBE (National Lottery Community Fund) called it “the only place in Britain where you connect the unconnected across all sectors.” Samuel Remi-Akinwale (Young Manchester) shared the personal impact of his time here: “Anthropy has nurtured me in so many ways. I’m leading an organisation at 24, it’s a daunting experience and the support from the Anthropy community has meant everything.” Sir Anthony Seldon (Wellington College Education) captured the sense of shared responsibility that ran through the week: “We have an incredible power to be the change we need to see.”
Wilful at Anthropy
As the official communications partner for Anthropy25, we had the privilege of working closely with the brilliant teams at Anthropy UK, TRO, and the Eden Project to help amplify the voice and vision of this year’s event.
From unveiling the bold new theme #RebootBritain, to supporting the agenda reveal alongside the market opening ceremony at the London Stock Exchange, our team was there every step of the way. We ran a full press office operation before, during and after the event, kicking off the week with a feature in CITY A.M. (both in print and online), securing two appearances on the BBC (with two more in the pipeline). With 556 pieces of coverage already secured, we’re continuing to see more coverage continue to roll in.
We weren’t just behind the scenes, either. The Wilful Group senior team took to the stage to moderate six sessions throughout the week, sparking conversations on storytelling, leadership, communications, digital culture, and the voices of the next generation. We also hosted our own session diving into the psychological toll of doomscrolling and exploring ways we can reclaim our attention and drive positive change.
Anthropy25 was energising, thought-provoking, and a powerful reminder of what can happen when we come together with purpose and with openness to disagreement. We’re already looking ahead to what’s next. Bring on #Anthropy26!
