The Programme

A cohort-based journey to technology sovereignty. The next cohort runs 16 September – 14 October 2026.

TechFreedom is a three-session cohort programme that helps social purpose organisations see their technology dependencies clearly, assess hidden risks and dependencies, and build practical roadmaps towards greater sovereignty.

The programme combines systems thinking, participatory facilitation methods, and peer learning to create space for honest reflection about where power sits in your technology stack.

This is not a technical audit. It's a strategic conversation about whose interests your tools serve, who can switch you off, and what freedom of movement you actually have.

The next cohort starts in September, with three sessions over six weeks. Book your place

Full refund up to 30 days before, or transfer to the next cohort.

Who is it for?

Charities & non-profits
Community interest companies
Co-operatives & mutuals
Social enterprises
Advocacy & campaigning groups
Community organisations
Mission-driven small businesses

Typical participants are executive directors, operations managers, trustees with technology oversight, or anyone responsible for technology decisions.

You don't need to be technical. The programme is designed for people who make strategic decisions about technology, not people who implement it.

The Three Sessions

Session 1

SEE: Mapping Invisible Reliance

Most organisations have never listed every piece of technology they depend on. In this first session, that changes.

Guided work to build your complete technology inventory, categorise by importance, and identify invisible dependencies. Includes peer reflection to spot blind spots.

You'll leave with: A complete map of your technology dependencies and a first sense of where invisible dependencies lie. You'll also have access to the cohort channel for questions and reflections between sessions.

Session 2

ASSESS: Making the Risks Explicit

Now that you can see your dependencies, it's time to score them. This session introduces the five risk lenses, the analytical heart of TechFreedom.

The Five Risk Lenses

01 Jurisdiction Where does your data actually live, and under whose laws?

02 Continuity What happens when a platform changes the rules, the pricing, or simply disappears?

03 Surveillance How much does your tech stack know about you, your staff, and the people you serve?

04 Lock-in Could you leave if you wanted to? What would it cost?

05 Cost Exposure How exposed are you to price changes and eliminated free tiers?

Use the five risk lenses to score your core tools. Build your Priority Grid to identify which changes will have the most impact. Structured peer support helps you think through your biggest blockers.

Learn more about how the five lenses interact and compound →

You'll leave with: A clear picture of where your risks lie and which tools sit in the “Quick Wins” quadrant for immediate action.

Session 3

PLAN: From Analysis to Action

Analysis without action is just worry. In this final session, you'll build a flexible roadmap using the Three Horizons framework.

The Three Horizons

Horizon 1 (Now → 3 months): Quick Wins, changes you can make without significant investment
Horizon 2 (3–12 months): Planned Transitions, moves requiring coordination, budget, or training
Horizon 3 (12–24 months): Strategic Shifts, long-term investments in sovereignty and capability

Workshop your priorities using the TechFreedom Database to find realistic alternatives. Identify what you need to move forward: skills, budget, support. Leave with public commitments and a cohort buddy for accountability.

You'll leave with: A flexible roadmap with actions, owners, and timelines. A buddy to keep you accountable. Commitments you've made in front of peers.

Between Sessions

Sessions are spaced 2–3 weeks apart. Between them, you're invited to:

Add any tools you remembered after the session
Note questions or unknowns to bring next time
Explore the TechFreedom Database of alternative tools
Post a question or insight in the cohort channel
Join an optional drop-in call for specific questions

The programme is designed to respect your capacity. Between-session work is deliberately light and optional.

What You Get

Three facilitated sessions Two hours each, using participatory methods where everyone is heard

The TechFreedom Canvas A three-page working document (printable A3): your technology map, risk assessment, and roadmap

TechFreedom Database A growing collection of commonly used tools pre-scored across five risk lenses, with curated alternatives and migration difficulty ratings

Structure & Pricing

Format 3 × 2-hour online sessions Dates 16 September · 30 September · 14 October 2026, 2–4pm UK time Cohort size Capped at 10 organisations to keep it personal (one person per organisation) Cost £450 per person (£150 per session) Includes Canvas, database, facilitation, ongoing support Add-on 1:1 surgery sessions available for working through specific blockers

Next cohort: 16 September, 30 September & 14 October 2026. Small by design — capped at 10 organisations.

Book your place — £450

Secure payment via Stripe · full refund up to 30 days before the first session, or transfer to the next cohort.

“I thought the sessions were designed really well, and enjoyed talking to others going through the same process. Committing to these sessions really provided me with the motivation and framework to actually start implementing some of the migration plans we'd had for a long time.”

— Pilot Cohort participant

Why Cohort-Based?

Peer learning: You learn as much from other organisations facing similar challenges as from the facilitators.
Accountability: Public commitments and buddy pairing create structures that outlast the programme.
Pacing: Sessions spaced 2–3 weeks apart allow time for reflection and small shifts without overwhelming capacity.
Community: The cohort becomes a community. Participants stay connected through office hours and check-ins.
Collective power: When organisations move together, they can share migration stories, recommend suppliers, pool resources, and build collective alternatives.

After the Programme

Support doesn't stop when the sessions end:

A feedback and next steps call one month after the final session
Office hours and drop-in sessions for ongoing questions and working through blockers
A progress check-in after three months, focused on your Horizon 1 actions

About the Facilitators

Tom Watson and Doug Belshaw co-created TechFreedom.

Tom is a coach, advisor and technologist focused on social purpose. He blends data, technology, design and strategy grounded in open infrastructure and principles.

Doug is a consultant, facilitator, and critical friend. He helps mission-driven organisations work more openly and make sense of complexity.

They share a commitment to participatory facilitation, peer learning, and supporting organisations to make technology choices that align with their values rather than compromise them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be technical?

No. The programme is designed for people who make strategic decisions about technology, not people who implement it. If you can list the tools your organisation uses, you have everything you need.

How many people from my organisation should attend?

One person per organisation. Ideally someone with oversight of technology decisions: an executive director, operations manager, or trustee. They can always bring insights back to colleagues.

What do I need to prepare?

Nothing. There is no pre-work. The first session starts with building your inventory from scratch.

What happens if I miss a session?

The sessions build on each other, so attending all three gives you the most value. If you need to miss one, we can arrange a brief catch-up call.

Is this about shaming us for using Google or Microsoft?

No. The programme creates space for honest reflection, not judgement. Most organisations use these tools for good reasons. The point is to make invisible dependencies visible so you can make deliberate choices, at your own pace.

What time are the sessions?

All three sessions run 2–4pm UK time — that's 9–11am US Eastern and 3–5pm Central Europe, so it works across the Atlantic without anyone starting before breakfast or finishing after dinner.

Session 1: 16 September · Session 2: 30 September · Session 3: 14 October 2026.

What platform are the sessions held on?

We use privacy-respecting video conferencing, confirmed with each cohort. The cohort channel uses an open, privacy-friendly platform.

Can you run TechFreedom for our network?

Yes. We can run dedicated cohorts for networks, umbrella bodies, or groups of organisations in specific sectors or communities. Get in touch to discuss.

How do I book, and what happens after I pay?

Booking is handled securely through Stripe. Once you've paid, you'll get a receipt by email; we'll follow up separately with joining details for the cohort channel and the first session.

What if I need to cancel?

Full refund if you cancel more than 30 days before the first session. After that, we're happy to transfer your place to the next cohort instead.

Next cohort: 16 Sept – 14 Oct 2026

Ready to join the next cohort?

“Committing to these sessions really provided me with the motivation and framework to actually start implementing our migration plans.” — Pilot Cohort participant

£450 per person · capped at 10 organisations · one place per organisation.

Book your place