Julia Middleton

Julia Middleton started Common Purpose in 1988. She formerly worked at The Industrial Society. Her husband, Rupert Middleton went on a business course in USA where Rupert spotted the Community Leadership Programmes.

Julia Middleton raised half a million in business sponsorship. According to Charles Handy, Common Purpose has 120 paid staff with turnover of £3m. Julia's father worked for Peat Marwick and she met Rupert, John Garnett, Julia Cleverdon at the Industrial Society.

CP's web PR and sponsor list is quite impressive: but what does it really mean? There are a few rants about it online (mostly centring around Middleton's proximity to the Office of the Deputy PM (ODPM) and the political patronage thereof. For example [1]

But then you see her moaning about the same subject and seemingly taking everyone in. [2]

Also associated with the Arab Learning Initiative, which describes its role as venture philanthropy.[3]

Middleton is well networked in the New Labour, Careerist, Atlanticist networks. Latterly she has joined the Media Standards Trust.