Alchemy at the Edge
Cultivating Creative Change
About
Alchemy at the Edge Consulting is designed for VCFSE leaders who stand at the intersection of tradition and innovation, inspired by the creative possibilities bubbling up within their organisations or faith communities. These leaders, often operating at the “edge of the inside,” recognise that true, lasting change starts at the edge and radiates toward the centre.
Richard Passmore is a seasoned innovator, and thought leader who has spent decades navigating the intersections of tradition and creativity. Known for his pioneering work in refounding organisations and empowering leaders, Richard draws on deep experience in faith-based innovation, social entrepreneurship, and systemic transformation. He is also currently the national FX lead Partnerships and Development.
What we offer organisations
1. Applied Alchemy Bespoke for Organisations
Unlock transformation with tailored Applied Alchemy support designed specifically for your organisation. We will partner you to develop a 3, 6 or 12 month learning community for your staff aligned to YOUR unique values, objectives, and delivery targets. Whether you’re a church, diocese, charity, or new Christian community you will receive an in-depth, context-driven learning pathway, fully integrated with your existing mentoring, coaching, (if you don’t have this we have partners who will provide it) accountability, and actionable next steps for real change beyond the seminar room. We can develop in person workshops write custom material at different levels such as:
- DIP – a 500 word Leadership snapshot
- DRIP A 1400 word Leadership Briefing with Applied Alchemy’s unique Leadership Postures, Positioning and Accountability checklist.
2. Growing the Mixed Ecology, A Distinctive Trellis Approach
Move beyond “mixed ecology” clichés with the original Mixed Ecology Trellis. This approach fosters a system where every tradition and new expression can flourish, drawing on transformative relationships, not institutional silos. Workshops, team days, and consultancy are rooted in an organic, visual framework that makes sense of complexity and fosters mutual growth across the whole church ecosystem, helping your community see and value all its living parts. Offerings include:
– Introducing and Using the Mixed Ecology Trellis in your context
– “Building Your Trellis” interactive workshop
– Mixed ecology analysis and strategy mapping
– Leadership team away days built around the trellis method
– Consultation for dioceses, local churches, and networks
3. Pioneering and Sustainability
Pioneering Leadership for a Changing Church requires us to step confidently into the frontiers of faith leadership with pioneering approaches that embrace risk, innovation, and the unknown. Sustainability is also Stewardship and Legacy and that’s not just environmental but deeply systemic. We need to nurture enduring leadership, thriving communities, and regenerative mission. Our services help to:
• Equip leaders to initiate New Christian Communities and uncharted missional ventures
• Foster cultures that experiment wisely and learn fast from successes and setbacks
• Support visionary projects that challenge institutional norms for transformation
• Embedding practices that strengthen resilience and care for people and place
• Developing sustainable systems of governance, culture, and resource use aligned to your values
• Cultivating long-term vision that preserves mission vitality beyond immediate pressures
- Key Concepts Workshops, Seminars and Consulting
4. Scaling Deeper Beyond Numbers
Whilst we are pragmatic about our responsibilities to funders, we help to balance the number growth metrics with change that is genuinely embedded, lasting, and transformative. Rooted in the Scaling Deep framework, these sessions are specifically tailored to the faith sector and seek to move change from the surface to the heart, leveraging personhood, narrative, and contextual wisdom.
5. Leadership and Systems Development
Access proven, research-led approaches to leadership tailored to the emerging church landscape such as The Two Loops Approach, Trickster Theory of Change Development, U Theory, Knowing your Change Space, etc that go beyond generic leadership talks with creative application-focused sessions and toolkits. These sessions aim for systemic change, adaptive leadership, and capacity building within your specific faith context.
6. Innovation and Creative Thinking for Mission
Spark fresh ways of thinking and unlock new solutions for today’s most pressing faith-based challenges. Workshops and consults are crafted to stimulate creativity, facilitate collaborative problem solving, and foster experimental mindsets, all grounded in theological insight and the realities of your context.
7. Culture, Missiology, and Change
Navigate the rapid shifts in culture, theology, and practice with custom sessions that connect deep missiological insight to practical local challenges. Each offering is rooted in story, deep listening, and tools of organisational change, ensuring your work is not just reactive, but generative and future-facing.
All of our Key Concepts are available flexibly as:
- Reflective retreats, Reviews and workshops for teams and organisations at any scale
- Narrative discovery processes
- One-off workshops
- Team days or away days
- Seminar, or Keynote addresses
- Executive accompaniment for senior leaders
- Ongoing consultancy, tailored from local parish to national bodies
Alchemy at the Edge makes sure every piece of work is as unique as your context.
What We Offer individuals
Applied Alchemy for Individuals
This is a fresh approach to the leadership space that collapses the gaps between mentoring, coaching, and accountability. You can book in regular sessions and prices start from just £70. What makes it different from coaching is that the aim is to grow fluent leaders who naturally have the right tools at their disposal and who reach for the right tool at the right time without having to think about it. This means we will suggest specific ideas, theories and resources to use and reflect with you as you try them out in your context.
Be more Trickster
Designed for those working on the inside edge of charities and organisations, and with the gift of not fitting in, Be More Trickster is space for you to reflect on the change you want to see and develop hacks that adopt a sideways approach to help make a difference. It’s about understanding the rules of the game and how to play with them with integrity to see the change needed.
walk and Talk
As Richard Passmore is based in the lakes these are one off sessions where we walk and talk. It’s shoulder to shoulder support using the environment, and lakes thin places to go deeper on any challenge you’re facing.
coaching
Does what is says on the tin!. We use the TGROW coaching model to help you get to grips with the challenges you’re facing. TGROW is a structured, five-stage coaching framework that enhances the classic GROW model by adding a dedicated “Topic” phase. This clarifies the broad subject area before setting specific, actionable goals.
Coming Soon
Still – A field guide to belonging is a beautifully simple mobile app with 84 daily practices across 12 weeks. Think Coach potato to 5k but for the soul. Each practice fits inside real life, starting at just 30 seconds and gradually building to 30 minutes of deep, embodied stillness.
84 daily practices with indoor & outdoor options
Gently progressive — never overwhelming
Reflection space to notice what shifts
Progress tracking across your journey
Quotes from poets, mystics & contemplative writers
Why Choose Alchemy at the Edge?
From Edge to Centre
We specialize in equipping leaders who may feel at the edge of their organisation to catalyse change that permeates the entire system.
Creativity Rooted in Tradition
Our approach values the traditions and strengths of established systems while fostering innovation and creative disruption that reinvigorates them.
Proven Frameworks for Lasting Change
Drawing on practical, time-tested methodologies, we help leaders craft scalable solutions that work.
Focused on Leadership Empowerment
Our services centre on the leader’s unique potential to inspire and guide transformation from within by fostering the right relationships and systems with those who have the gift of not fitting in.
Narrative-Driven Transformation
By prioritising storytelling, we enable leaders to communicate their vision compellingly, building broad support for change.
Who We Serve
Faith-Based Innovators: Leaders seeking to create imaginative spaces within traditional faith communities.
Social Entrepreneurs: Changemakers with a vision for systemic growth and sustainable impact.
Organisational Leaders: Those on the edge of traditional organisations who want to bring creativity and adaptability into the centre.