Bridge International Dialogue (‘Bridge ID’) is a registered charity in the UK: Charity No: 1125025 as well as a company limited by guarantee: Company No: 6272857. Bridge ID is a forum for young professionals to debate global challenges, raise awareness, shape public agendas and foster mutual understanding beyond national boundaries. Our aims are set out in the Memorandum of Articles: “To advance the education and awareness of citizens of countries throughout the world in respect of other societies and cultures and global issues and to promote and encourage mutual understanding between countries by such means as the Directors may determine, in particular but not exclusively by: a. Bringing together young professionals from diverse cultures and communities at forums, lectures, conferences and other events (including conferences organised jointly with the German Young Königswinter Alumni Association, the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V. Berlin and/or Wilton Park Alumni Association b. Research and publications c. Providing and assisting in providing facilities to promote mutual understanding and friendship between citizens of various countries (particularly but not exclusively, by furthering the foundations of German-British friendship and understanding achieved through the Young Königswinter Conferences organised by the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V. Berlin and /or British German Forums organised by Wilton Park, Sussex. d. Providing a point of contact in the United Kingdom and access to ongoing forums to young professionals from diverse cultures and communities, particularly those members of the Young Königswinter Alumni Association and British German Forum Alumni residing in the United Kingdom or visiting the United Kingdom."
Bridge ID is a forum for young professionals to debate global challenges, raise awareness, shape public agendas and foster mutual understanding beyond national boundaries.
“To advance the education and awareness of citizens of countries throughout the world in respect of other societies and cultures and global issues and to promote and encourage mutual understanding between countries by such means as the Directors may determine, in particular but not exclusively by:
a. Bringing together young professionals from diverse cultures and communities at forums, lectures, conferences and other events (including conferences organised jointly with the German Young Königswinter Alumni Association, the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V. Berlin and/or Wilton Park Alumni Association
b. Research and publications
c. Providing and assisting in providing facilities to promote mutual understanding and friendship between citizens of various countries (particularly but not exclusively, by furthering the foundations of German-British friendship and understanding achieved through the Young Königswinter Conferences organised by the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft e.V. Berlin and /or British German Forums organised by Wilton Park, Sussex.
d. Providing a point of contact in the United Kingdom and access to ongoing forums to young professionals from diverse cultures and communities, particularly those members of the Young Königswinter Alumni Association and British German Forum Alumni residing in the United Kingdom or visiting the United Kingdom."
Bridge ID was established by Alumni of the Young Königswinter Conference and the Wilton Park British German Forum Conference. Bridge ID aims to work in the spirit of both conferences and provide alumni of both conferences a point of contact, events and a forum when residing in or visiting the UK.
The Young Königswinter Conference has its roots in the post-war Anglo-German talks which took place in the German town of Königswinter. Bringing together, leading figures from politics, economics and civil society, in a frank and relaxed atmosphere they sought to facilitate the process of reconciliation by promoting a climate of understanding between the two countries.
Today the talks have evolved into a mutually beneficial dialogue between Britain and Germany. In 1961, based on the success of the Königswinter Conference, the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft extended the concept by inviting upcoming British and German decision-makers and opinion-formers to participate in an Anglo-German Youth Meeting which was held in Berlin.
The youth meetings continue on an annual basis and are now known as the Young Königswinter Conference. Conference participants are usually aged between 25 and 30 years of age and come from government, the legal profession, business, interest groups, academia and the media.
More information about the Young Koenigswinter Conference and the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft can be found here: [http://www.debrige.de/english/young_koenigswinter.html]
The British German Forum is an annual four day event initiated by the British and German governments arising from an agreement signed by Mrs Thatcher and Chancellor Kohl in 1985, to develop the links between the younger generations from the UK and Germany. The first Forum took place in 1986.
Each year the Forum brings together a group of 50 “high flyers” from Germany and Britain aged between 25-35. Participants from both countries are selected as opinion formers and tomorrow’s leaders from a variety of professional backgrounds including the business and financial sectors, politics, media, government, academia and think tanks.
The Forum provides both British and German participants a unique opportunity to discuss key issues with their contemporaries, helps them to gain a greater understanding of the other country and also provides an excellent networking opportunity.
More information about Wilton Park and the British German Forum can be found here: [http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/index.aspx]
Dr Henrike Müller
Henrike is a civil servant working at the Office of Fair Trading and has worked in Brussels for the European Institutions. She has been involved in Germany based charity activities since the mid-1990s and has vast experience in organizing academic conferences.
Silke is the Press and Communications Officer of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. She has gained extensive experience with charities both while working in the House of Commons and being active in her local community as a school governor in Greenwich.
Mark is a researcher for John Bowis, MEP in Brussels. He has been involved in the British German Forum Alumni network since 2005. In the past he has worked as a researcher for Greg Barker, MP in Whitehall and as a volunteer for various charitable causes including Amnesty International, Policy Exchange and the British-American Security Information Council.
Please note that all directors are up for elections at Bridge ID’s next Annual General Meeting.
