Digital Badging
Championing digital badging as a recognised learning hallmark for informal learners of all walks of life, especially for the skills needed for a regenerative economy.
Social Infrastructure
Design for Life Social Infrastructure
At a system-wide level, Design for Life aims to develop and influence the supporting conditions that people, communities and organisations need to drive regenerative change in the long term.
How are we achieving this?
Social Connections
Our social connections work will oversee a step-change in encouraging approaches and practices that value and commit to stewarding social capital.
Attend an event about our Social Infrastructure work
-
Patron's Lecture: why social capital matters
Public talks
RSA House and YouTube
In the 2025 RSA Patron’s Lecture, world-renowned political scientist Robert Putnam explores the vital role of social connections for economic mobility, civic engagement, and community wellbeing.
Related Social Infrastructure content
-
Counting the cost of bowling alone
Blog
Andy Haldane
In his 2025 CEO Lecture, Andy Haldane addresses how the ever-increasing cross-border flows of goods, people and information affect widening divisions and accelerate the depletion of social capital.
-
Andy Haldane, CEO of the RSA, calls for ‘social connection revolution’ to reverse economic and social decline
Press release
RSA CEO Andy Haldane delivered his annual Chief Executive’s Lecture to a sold-out audience at RSA House.
-
Why cultural infrastructure deserves public funding
Comment
Dr Patrycja Kaszynska
If culture is viewed as infrastructure that benefits society at large, it provides a strong argument for why cultural engagement requires public support.
Explore our other Design for Life areas of focus
-
Capabilities for Life
Design for Life supports people to learn and lead. We're unlocking the confidence, capabilities and connections of children, learners and entrepreneurs of all ages.
-
Prosperous Places
Prosperous Places are programmes that respond to the unique ambitions and challenges of places. Everyone deserves to live in a vibrant community, with opportunities to thrive in a flourishing natural environment.
Become an RSA Fellow
The RSA Fellowship is a unique global network of changemakers enabling people, places and the planet to flourish. We invite you to be part of this change.