MU Future Leaders is a brand new activist development programme for MU members who want to be more involved in MU Democracy through our Regional and Executive Committees.
Following the Reserved Seats Rule Change at Conference 2025, the programme specifically focuses on underrepresented members, to support them running for reserved seats in the 2026 elections.
Our underrepresented members include disabled members, LGBT+ members, women members, young members and members from the Global Majority.
The MU Future Leaders programme will help you understand how to organise, campaign, and build a collective identity through your activism, giving you the skills, knowledge and networks to grow as an activist.
Bursary
This is a pilot programme for 10 participants. MU Future Leaders will be given a bursary of £1,000* each, paid in installments, and the MU will cover travel, accommodation and expenses for all in-person activities. The majority of the programme will be delivered online.
*We recognise that there are barriers to receiving payment if you’re in receipt of benefits. If you’re worried about the impact of receiving the bursary on any benefits you receive, we can discuss a payment plan that works for you.
Who is MU Future Leaders aimed at?
MU Future Leaders is for members who are currently underrepresented on our committees and who are interested and willing to stand for nomination to our MU Regional or Executive Committees.
These include:
- Disabled Members
- LGBT+ Members
- Members from the Global Majority
- Women Members
- Young Members (members under 30 years old).
What am I committing to if I’m accepted onto MU Future Leaders?
MU Future Leaders will take part in a six-month program of training. You’ll be expected to attend live online sessions on the following provisional dates:
Block 1: Understanding union structures and how to navigate them
- Tuesday 16 March, 12:30pm–2:00pm – Introduction to the MU as a trade union (90 minutes, online)
- Tuesday 24 March, 12:30pm–1:30pm – Introduction to organising (60 minutes, online)
- Tuesday 7 April, 12:30pm–1:30pm – Introduction to campaigning (60 minutes, online)
- Tuesday 14 April, 12:30pm–1:30pm – Base building (60 minutes, online)
- Monday 20 April – Friday 1 May – How to have an organising conversation (60 minutes, self-directed).
Block 2: Network building
- Monday 18 May – Monday 1 June – Leadership development with Remi Harris Consulting (60 minutes online, one-to-one)
- Tuesday 19 May, 12:30pm–2:00pm – Community mapping (90 minutes, online)
- Week commencing Monday 25 May, date and time TBC – Digital organising with TUC (60 minutes, online)
- Week commencing Monday 1 June, date and time TBC – Committee cultures with Remi Harris Consulting (90 minutes, online)
- Wednesday 10 June – MU Executive Committee Meeting (full day, in person).
Block 3: Creating a manifesto to campaign upon
- Week commencing Monday 6 July, date and time TBC – Effective communication (90 minutes, online)
- Tuesday 14 July, 12:30pm–1:30pm – Campaigning planning, part 1 (60 minutes, online)
- Tuesday 21 July, 12:30pm–1:30pm – Campaigning planning, part 2 (60 minutes, online)
- Wednesday 29 July – Friday 14 August – Develop your campaign ideas (4 hours, self-directed)
- Week commencing Monday 17 August, date and time TBC – Culmination day and celebration (full day, in person).
The sessions will be delivered by a mix of MU staff, music industry professionals, and communication and lobbying experts. You’ll also have some self-directed activities to complete in your own time.
The programme will culminate in an in-person day of activities at MU HQ in London, followed by a celebration. This is provisionally going to take place on Tuesday 18 August 2026.
The overall time commitment is anticipated to be around 14 hours of contact time online for live delivery sessions, as well as attending an Executive Committee meeting and the Future Leaders’ culmination day. We anticipate around 10 hours of self-directed reflection and preparation time across the 20 week programme, as well as around 5 hours of self-directed learning activities.
We recognise that some members may need or want to spend more time on some activities, depending on access needs and interest in particular topics, so these are guides.
You’ll be provided with a participation agreement, that sets out our expectations of behaviour, attendance and commitment when you are offered a place.
Applying for MU Future Leaders
Our application has two stages, so that we can make sure it’s the right fit for you.
1. Application forms must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday 30 January 2026. We ask that you let us know in advance as far as possible if you are likely to need more time or another access adjustment.
The form will include some eligibility questions, including your membership number if you know it, which underrepresented communities you identify with, and your eligibility for MU Regional and Executive Committees.
To join a regional committee, you must have been in membership for 1 year and be registered as a member in that region at the time of nomination.
To join the Executive committee you must have been in membership for 5 years, and be registered as a member in the region for which you are standing at the time of nomination.
If you are unsure of any of the above, please contact equalities@themu.org before beginning the application form and we can support you to check this information.
2. We are also going to hold short conversation calls on zoom, so that we can get to know you better and make sure the programme is the right fit for you.
We are planning to hold all conversation calls on Monday 16 February between 9:00am and 6:00pm. If you are likely to have a challenge with availability on this date, please let us know in the application form (there will be a space for this) so that we can find an alternative date without delaying our broader recruitment timeline.
We will be aiming to let all applicants know if they have been successful before the end of Wednesday 18 February 2026, and they will then have until Friday 27 February 2026 to confirm their place. Applicants will be notified of any date changes for conversations, notification of outcome, and acceptance.