The Wilberforce Society

The Wilberforce Society

Abbreviation	TWS
Formation	2009
Type	Public policy / Think tank
Headquarters	Cambridge University
Patron Chairman	Lord Wilson of Dinton Laura Grunberg
Website

The Wilberforce Society (TWS) is an independent, non-partisan, student-run think tank, based at the University of Cambridge.^[1]

TWS aims to "promote constructive and intelligent debate" around the University of Cambridge, and "represents the views of moderate students," offering undergraduates and graduates "the opportunity to become involved with policy conception and analysis with the possibility of genuine impact." TWS follows an independent policy agenda set by the executive committee, but also carries out commissions for external organisations, among which have been the House of Lords and the House of Commons. TWS does not charge fees.

Governance and Functioning

The Wilberforce Society works in two main areas. Commissioned work comes from both private sector organisations and public bodies. For such assignments, members of the society group into committees, which work corporately over a period of weeks or months to produce a research paper. The paper is presented in an open lecture in front of academics, students, and members of the general public.

The second type of work is through individual and small group production of proposals. These proposals are then discussed at open meetings, to which a guest expert is invited. The guest helps establish the background of the policy area and helps to determine a suitable approach to the topic. Most proposals are published on the think tank's website.^[2]

In addition to policy research, the Society functions at the centre of Cambridge student political life, as a focal point for mutual dialogue between students and frontline policymakers. TWS Ideas events provide a relaxed setting for informal debates on broad questions of public policy. The TWS Forum is the networking seminar for the leaders of student political societies.

The Society has established links with YouGov, a UK opinion polster company. YouGov data is also used in policy papers.

Annual Conference

The Wilberforce Society holds an annual conference. Previous speakers include Richard Kemp, Maajid Nawaz and the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan. In 2013 the conference was titled "We don't need no education?" and included speakers Lord Glasman. The title for the 2014 conference was “Small Island. Big World. Visions of Britain in a Global Era” and was hosted at the Cambridge Union Society in early 2014. The 2015 conference, titled 'The Lost Generation', focused on youth disengagement, broken down into three sessions discussing employment, justice and politics.^[3][4]

Committee

In June 2010, Lord Wilson of Dinton, former Head of the Home Civil Service, was appointed Chair of the Board of Patrons of The Wilberforce Society. The Board also includes Baroness Prashar, Lord Kilclooney, Lord Rees of Ludlow, Lord Deben and Professor Andrew Gamble.

The Wilberforce Society was nominated as "One to Watch" in July 2013 at Prospect's annual think tank awards.^[5]

In October 2013 TWS launched a blog for in order to publicise TWS events, create a forum for Cambridge students to write about and comment on policy issues, raise the profile of TWS events, and aid more TWS members in active work. ^[6]

References

External links

• The Wilberforce Society
• Varsity Newspaper, Issue no. 706, p6, Politico
• Varsity Newspaper, Interview with Tom Davenport
• Financial Times, TWS Paper on ISA Fees