GROUNDWORK BY COMMONGRND
The place to turn your concern into real action. Together.
Groundwork is for people who care but don't know where to start.
It's a structured, supportive pathway to close the gap between who you are and what you do — leaving you with clarity, a plan and a community of people figuring it out alongside you.
A guided programme that turns your concern about the world into ideas you'll have started actioning by the time you leave. From saying you care to actually meaning it.
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Mode
- 100% online
- Format
- Part-time with flex
- COHORT SIZE
- Limited to 16 places
Next Intake starts: 21 September 2026
I love how you are really supporting people to find their own specific way
Sharing the journey with other like-minded people made it feel like I'd found my village
01 — Who's behind this
I'm Andy, host of Groundwork.
After 14 years building one of Europe's largest arts festivals, my life changed fast and I had to start again from scratch.
I was staring out the window of a ferry when it really hit me. I knew I wanted to do something good in the world and I had all the sea in front of me but absolutely no idea where to aim for. I felt paralysed. And perhaps worse, like a complete phoney.
Groundwork is my answer to that — built for people who want to contribute to something bigger but just don't know where to start. It's the programme, community and vibe I wish I'd had on that boat all those years ago.
Join a cohort that meets you where you are. Arrive feeling like you're washing out your yoghurt pots while the world is on fire. Leave with something that's yours to do about it.
02 — The reality
We don't need more people who care, we need more people who act.
But figuring out what that looks like is harder than it looks.
You're concerned by the state of the world. You've tried things but stopped them. You recycle, you vote, you boycott what you can. But deep down you feel the exhausting guilt of not doing more, the niggling uncertainty about whether any of it actually matters, and possibly even a sense of shame for not having figured out what your contribution to society should be, as if you “should” already know this. What you're missing — an impactful way of acting that fits who you are and you can maintain over time — might be closer than you think.
Groundwork is for you if…
- You care about the world but feel dissatisfied with how you act on it.
- You want action that's genuinely yours, not borrowed from someone else.
- You want to figure it out alongside other like-minded people.
It isn't for you if…
- You're looking for a certificate or career credential.
- You prefer to learn, explore and reflect alone.
- You're looking for a place to rant.
- You want to feel better about the world without doing anything about it.
03 — What you leave with
A focused plan, a supportive community and more drive to make a difference
We don't prescribe specific outcomes and nor do we ask you to rip up your life and start again. We guide you through a participant-centric approach to find the way to act that fits you and your life. One person started a monthly female empowerment circle. One person created a community for climbers to give back to the places they visit. One person altered their career path from corporate to community building. Whilst the outcomes will be entirely yours, we expect you to leave the programme with:
Your own personal manifesto
Capturing what you care about, how you'll act and what comes next. Yours to keep and build on.
The clarity to own it
Knowing how to talk about this part of your life — to yourself and others — with confidence and passion.
A cohort who gets it
A group of like-minded people doing the same work, bringing accountability and sharing momentum.
Your designed contribution
Grounded in your values, your life and the kind of contribution only you can make.
The exhaustion of pre-action was real. It gave me the time to think within structure and community
I found my fit - I now understand what I actually want to invest my time in
04 — How it works
Small cohort. Real practice. Real life.
Over six weeks, Groundwork helps you get clear on what drives you, what suits you and how to turn your concern into action that sticks. The weeky live session brings fresh perspectives and connection with like-minded people, the self-paced learning content allows for personal discovery and reflection, and the bespoke outcomes means the action is entirely yours and can actually fit your life.
The sessions are online but the work is geographically grounded. You'll be mapping your own neighborhood, communities, and context. The cohort is global; your action lives where you do.
- 01
Harness your motivation
Get clear on what you care about and what kind of contribution feels meaningful.
- 02
Map your terrain
Look honestly at your context, your barriers and the spheres of action already around you.
- 03
Find your best-fit
Explore the forms of action that suit your skills, energy and way of working.
- 04
Choose your focus
Narrow in on the issues where you can have the most impact.
- 05
Design your contribution
Shape something specific, realistic and genuinely yours.
- 06
Share your personal manifesto
Leave with a clear, personal commitment — to yourself and your cohort — to what you care about, how you'll act on it and what your next steps are.
The weekly group sessions are held via video call and last between 60-90 minutes. They're limited to a small cohort and we ask for cameras on where possible to keep conversations meaningful and connections personal. The self-paced learning content requires a commitment of around three to five hours per week. All materials will be provided and accessible from anywhere in the world.
05 — What people say
Hear what it’s really like...
THE THING I LOVED MOST ABOUT GROUNDWORK WAS…
The chance to get clearer on my values, reconnect with a more altruistic side of myself, and think a bit more intentionally about how I want to contribute beyond the day-to-day.
The importance of the work you are doing and the network of like-minded people.
The very personal nature of it. It has obviously been very carefully thought out.
06 — The insight
If there was a magic button to help you take action tomorrow, what would it be? Most people say "more time."
But what if time isn't the barrier we think it is?
Because when we say "more time", we're usually just being polite. What we really mean is:
> I have other priorities.
> I don't know how.
> There are things I'd rather be doing.
Action lasts when it fits your values and your life.
The problem is that most programmes give you inspiration, information, or someone else's micro-actions. Or they ask you to rip your life up and start again. None of these work — because none of them address what's actually getting in the way for you.
What does work is finding the action that fits your values, your life, and the kind of contribution only you can make. That's what Groundwork is designed to unlock.
07 — WHAT IT COSTS
Our guarantee to you as one of the first.
We're confident but humble so our guarantee is simple. If you're not satisfied with the programme at any stage, you'll get your money back. That's how much we believe in what we're doing.
FOUNDING PRICE
€145€295
Reserve your place in one of the founding Groundwork cohorts.
- — Next Intake starts: 21 September 2026 (Only 8 places remaining)
- — 2027 intakes to be announced soon.
Each cohort is limited to 16 places to ensure meaningful conversations and personal connections.
Concession places available at €45. No questions asked.
Bring a buddy? Save 15% if you both apply.
WHAT YOU GET AS A FOUNDING PARTICIPANT
The lowest price we'll ever offer for Groundwork.
A direct hand in shaping how the programme grows.
A small cohort of 16 — real conversation, not performance.
Our money-back guarantee if it isn't right for you.
A unique place in CommonGrnd's history.
08 — Questions
Very reasonable questions.
We hope we've answered your questions here but if there's anything we've missed, you can get in touch at the bottom of this page.
09 — TIME TO BEGIN
Meaningful, sustained action beats a big, unfinished plan.
Join the Groundwork programme — designed for people who care about the world and want to turn that feeling into action. Next intake starts: 21 September 2026.
Got questions?
- Access requirements? You can book a time to discuss these here.
- Want to see us in action? Join one of our monthly Next Chapter Collective sessions for free.
- Still got questions? and we'll be in touch.