The first decade is always the hardest and since Compass was founded in 2004 it’s been a challenging journey. We have come a long way but see how much further there is to go. We are growing up, learning, failing and learning again. But it’s been a joyful and rewarding experience too; full of friends, inspiration and hope. The hope, and the belief, that we can build a Good Society together.

Ten years ago we felt that applying pressure to the Labour government could yield significant results. We tasted our first big public outing trying to stop New Labour breaking up the school system and then from replacing Trident. We failed both times. But we had made an impact.

Victories soon came when we helped stop Labour privatising the Post Office and introducing 90 days detention. But we knew this wasn’t enough. We wanted positive things to happen.

So we reformed the Companies Act to build in wider stakeholder responsibility and began to initiate broader political projects, ones that brought tactical coalitions together like the High Pay Commission (now the High Pay Centre) and more recently the Living Wage Commission – which has pushed scores of big companies to make the pledge. Alongside those projects we launched more populist campaigns such as End Legal Loan Sharking and the Big Six Energy Fix that others have since taken on and successfully developed.

It’s not all been good. We developed a robust Plan B for the economy but austerity still prevails. Some other things fizzled but died because we didn’t sustain them.

Through all of this we learnt that no single issue, organisation or political party can make a Good Society a reality by themselves. We also know that we are still too white, London centric and male (though on the latter at least we are changing fast). We’ve spent too much time in seminar rooms rather than building the capacity of our members. We will make more mistakes as we continue to experiment because we know that more of the same will not produce the society we want. But two big positives stand out looking back over the first decade of Compass.

First, we have built a home for thousands of people who believe in a positive vision of a Good Society and want to build it together. The home is not yet big enough – we need to welcome in lots more but it’s a place to dream and bring those dreams to life. We think this is unique and invaluable.

Second, we have not shied away from changing ourselves. We started as best friends of New Labour telling them some home truths. We soon developed into strong critics. Then we made the big decision to move beyond being only Labour to embrace people from other parties and none who shared our ideals and ways of being. We are still working hard to influence Labour but know that other places matter too. It’s not been easy but it was the right thing to do. We are so much richer and better connected. More recently the shift to more participatory meetings like the wonderful Change: How conference and the recent Compass Gathering – takes us closer to being the change we wish to see in the world.

And we look forward with huge optimism. Our soon to be released work on New Times sets out the terrain in which a Good Society becomes not just desirable but feasible. The Open Tribes project is teaching us how to do values led politics with generosity and respect. Work like our big education inquiry is helping turn theory into practice and the Movement Review is laying the foundations of the infrastructure to make transformative change possible.

We are learning that politics is about people, our love for each other and our belief in the infinite possibility of all of us. The local, the national and global – all come into play. There are no simple answers – no silver bullets. Building a Good Society will be complicated and messy and we will never stop learning how to do it. In all this, our dreams, beliefs, connections and commitment are greater than they have ever been.

More than ever though we need your help – resourcing all this work is so hard. Can you become a Friend of Compass by taking out a direct debit today? We need a thousand people to give an average of £10 per month to transform our capacity to act. We won’t exist without you. Please click here and fill in a simple online form – thank you.

With your support we will continue to combine radical analysis with pragmatic action; all the time building the capacity of our members, deepening our connections and staying true to our values. The flat structures of a networked society can make the future ours – a Good Society. But we are going to have to fight for it.

Happy anniversary Compass and all who are guided by her.

We, the undersigned, don’t support everything Compass has done or will do but we are so glad it exists and ask you to make sure it thrives by backing it today.

Alan Finlayson Andea Nahles Andrea Westall Andrew Simms Anna Coote Anthony Barnett Bea Campbell Ben Little Billy Hayes Brendan Martin Cameron Tait Caroline Lucas Carys Afoko Cat Hobbs Catherine Howarth Charles Secrett Chris Haskins Chris Williamson Christian Wolmar Christine Blower Chuka Umunna Clare Sambrook Clifford Singer Clive Lewis Colin Crouch Colin Hines Cynthia Derali Daniel Vockins Danni Paffard Danny Dorling Dave Prentis David Babbs David Edgar David Heinemann David Marquand David Ritter David Robinson Deborah Hargreaves Doreen Massey Dr Malcolm Torry Ed Mayo Ed Miliband Eliane Glaser Fiona Millar Fiona Ranford Fiona Williams Frances Northrop Frances O’Grady Francesca Klug Gareth Epps Gavin Hayes Gerry Hassan Gerry Holtham Guy Standing Ha Joon Chang Heather Wakefield Helena Kennedy Henning Meyer Henry Tinsley Hetan Shah Hilary Cottam Hilary Wainwright Howard Reed Hugh Lanning Indra Adnan Jane Roberts Jane Thomas Jason Cowley Jenny Nelson Jeremy Gilbert Jo Littler Joe Cox John Harris John Hilary John Kampfner John Sauven John Weeks Jon Bloomfield Jon Collins Jon Cruddas Jon Trickett Jonathan Porritt Jonathan Rutherford Joss Garman Jules Peck Julian Coman Kat Banyard Kat Wall Kate Pickett Katie Ghose Ken Spours Kirsty Styles Kit Jones Larry Elliot Leanne Wood Liam Barrington-Bush Linda Jack Lindsay Mackie Lisa Nandy Liz Snape Marc Stears Mark Fisher Mark Perryman Martin Jaques Martin Yarnit Mary Riddell Matthew Taylor Melissa Benn Michael Jacobs Michael Orton Mike Rustin Molly Scott Cato Natalia Stepan Natalie Bennett Nadine Rae Neal Lawson Neil Jameson Nicholas Maxwell Nick Dearden Nick Pearce Nicola Smith Nigel Stanley Nina Power Noel Hatch Owen Tudor Pam Giddy Pat Kane Patrick Diamond Patrick Harvie Paul Hackett Peter MacLeod Polly Toynbee Rachel Roberts Rebecca Hickman Rebecca Johnson Richard Grayson Richard Hawkins Richard Murphy Richard Sennett Richard Wilkinson Richard Wilson Robin Mcalpine Robin Murray Robin Wilson Rosamund McCarthy Rosie Rogers Rupert Read Russell Elliot Ruth Lister Ruth Potts Sally Davison Salman Shaheen Sam Tarry Sarah Cosford Sarah Jayne Clifton Saskia Sassen Shelagh Wright Shuvo Loha Sian Berry Sophie Neuburg Stewart Lansley Stewart Wallis Stewart Wood Stuart Speeden Stuart White Sue Goss Suzanne Moore Tim Jackson Tom Bentley Tom Clark Tom Crompton Tony Robinson Uffe Elbeak Veena Vasista Victor Adebowale Victor Anderson Will Davis Will Hutton Willie Sullivan Zoe Gannon Zoe Williams Zymunt Bauma