This episode covers the transformative journey of grantmaker, the Smallwood Trust. I speak to Paul Carbury (CEO) and Ambreen Shah (Trustee), as they shed light on the Trust’s metamorphosis over the past six and a half years. Expect insights into the trust’s evolution from implementing governance changes, to experimenting with funding models, to modifying their strategic plan and recruitment processes. Through their journey, they’ve become intentional about identifying and addressing inequalities within their mission—an enlightening transformation for both the trust and the charities they support.

We’ll uncover the challenges and triumphs of redistributing power and assets within the context of funding for women's organizations. We’ll explore how the Smallwood Trust strikes the balance between nurturing long-term relationships with well-established organizations, and bringing in fresh perspectives through funding new charities. We cover various aspects from reducing gendered poverty through local initiatives, to the importance of building trust and amplifying voices from disenfranchised communities.

We also discuss Smallwood's board shadowing programme — designed to empower women and bring diversity to the boardroom. Paul and Ambreen share their experiences and insights into how this programme has broken down power dynamics and empowered individuals to become trustees.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

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The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

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For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Keywords: Charity Leadership, Workforce Development, Great Teams, Emotional Intelligence, Shared Purpose, Trust, Continuous Learning.

In this episode, we learn about charity Leadership and workforce development with Rob Laycock, co-founder of Yes We Can Community CIC. Known for his expertise in supporting the voluntary sector in the Northeast, Rob shares valuable insights into harnessing the potential of individuals and creating effective teams. Together with his colleague Stephanie Cole, they've successfully reframed leadership as an action-oriented concept, emphasising the development of leadership, governance, and collaborative networks.

Rob provides detailed insights in the following areas:

(00:00) - Leadership and Workforce Development Challenges

(09:41) - Best Self, Great Teams, and Leadership

(18:46) - Communication & Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

(25:02) - Creating Effective Teams and Collaboration

(36:38) - Effective Communication, Conflict Management, Fun in Organizations

(46:17) - Budgeting and Allocation for People Development

(01:00:08) - Investing in Nonprofit People and Teams

(01:07:38) – Recommendations.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

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The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

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For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Keywords: Legacy Giving, Fundraising, Donors, Local Charities, Legacy Marketing, Impact Report, Gifts In Wills.

Join us in this fascinating discussion with Richard Radcliffe, a legacy fundraising expert, who shares his wealth of knowledge on legacy giving. We talk about the power of legacies in fundraising and how it is becoming an increasingly significant source of voluntary income, projected to double to about £7 billion by 2045. Richard discusses the evolving landscape of giving, with a shift from the traditional organisations supported to a broader range including local charities and causes such as mental health and campaigning.

Tune in as we explore the importance of creating a legacy vision for an organization and communicating it effectively to potential donors. Richard shares insightful tips on integrating legacy giving into conversations with service users, incorporating it into regular communication channels, and why a legacy brochure isn't always necessary. Discover the power of gentle communication in encouraging potential donors to consider leaving a gift in their will.

In the final part of the episode, we focus on legacy marketing strategies and tips. Listen as we share valuable insights on raising awareness of legacies in local communities and the importance of brand awareness. Don't miss out on these key takeaways that can potentially transform your charity's income.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

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For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Keywords: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Psychological Safety, Code of Respect, Intersectionality.

In this podcast episode, I had an insightful discussion with consultant and coach Ngozi Lyn Cole about enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in organizations. We explored the critical elements that make an organisation more inclusive and diverse, with Ngozi explaining why equity goes beyond treating everyone the same and how it is crucial for an organization to have a diverse representation at every level.

We started our conversation by discussing the importance of inclusion and why it's essential to treat equity and diversity as separate but interconnected aspects. We then moved on to discuss a practical framework for transitioning towards inclusivity, which involves recognizing the importance of inclusion, setting clear commitments and strategies, and evaluating the impact.

We also discussed the importance of creating a safe environment for conversations around these pivotal topics and the need for an organisational audit to identify strengths and weaknesses.

This episode provides a wealth of actionable insights and resources for fostering an inclusive environment in any organisation.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

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For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Episode keywords:

Creativity, Innovation, Fundraising, Nonprofit, Charities, Fear, Long-Term Thinking, Acknowledging Failure, Psychological Safety, Nurturing People, Involving Audience, Problem-Solving, Learning from Failure.

Episode description:

Creativity in problem-solving and innovation in transforming these solutions into tangible results - simple concepts, yet often mistaken as one and the same, and riddled with roadblocks. Today, Lucy Gower, founder of Lucidity, helps to disentangle these concepts, while unearthing the hurdles that can hinder their implementation. From redefining innovation for your organisation, to confronting the fear of failure, we cover a wide spectrum of insight in this episode.

Don't let fear and scarcity of resources stifle your creative spirit and hamper innovation. We candidly address these common hurdles, encouraging a shift in perspective towards embracing failures as stepping stones to success. Together with Lucy, we shed light on the necessity of a long-term vision in fundraising, bust myths about the digital shift during the pandemic, and uncover the silver lining that every challenge presents. Through this, we aim to inspire a fresh approach to problem-solving, ultimately driving your organisation towards innovative outcomes.

Lucy talks about the importance of nurturing our people during stressful times and fostering an environment of psychological safety to stimulate effective innovation. Lucy shares practical strategies to foster such a culture, and we highlight some valuable resources to further explore this topic. From learning from failure to committing to perpetual innovation, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on fostering creativity and innovation in charities.

Lucy Gower

Lucy is founder and director at Lucidity. She is a coach, trainer and facilitator specialising in giving people the confidence and tools to think creatively, develop ideas and make their innovations happen.

She is bestselling author of The Innovation Workout and a global speaker on innovation. Lucy is passionate about helping people unlock their creativity and get the important work done. She enjoys working on projects with the potential to make a positive impact on the world.

You can find Lucy on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

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For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Episode keywords:

Fundraising, Donor Needs, Response Rates, ROI, Digital Fundraising, Personalised Donor Care, Donor Engagement, Effective Strategies, Cultivating Relationships, Small Charities.

Episode description:

In this episode, we welcome Mark Phillips, founder of Fundraising Agency BlueFrog, who shares his decades of experience working with leading fundraising charities. This conversation is an enlightening exploration of the often-overlooked needs of donors and the significance of establishing meaningful relationships with them.

Mark discusses the four key states of need that influence people when they donate to charities and the art of cultivating robust, lasting relationships with donors. He also dives deep into efficient fundraising strategies, response rates, and ROI. Importantly, Mark enlightens us on the importance of personalised donor care and how making donors feel valued can fuel successful fundraising programmes.

This episode is filled with invaluable advice and practical tips from one of the sector's leading voices, including how small charities can start and grow their fundraising programmes.

Finally, Mark recommends some of his favorite books and authors that offer precious insights into fundraising. This episode is a goldmine of information for anyone interested in understanding and improving their fundraising efforts.

Mark Phillips

Mark Phillips runs Bluefrog Fundraising, the acclaimed fundraising creative agency he founded in 1997 with the goal of it being the agency he would want to employ. Mark has a BA in development studies form the University of East Anglia, which was where he got the advice to get a job in charity marketing. He then received an MSc from Manchester University in management science. This led to a first job at ActionAid, and then seven years as head of fundraising at YMCA. Mark is one of the global fundraising profession’s most in-demand conference presenters, particularly on Bluefrog’s research into the motivations, attitudes and behaviours of mid-value donors. He also writes the Queer Ideas blog, which explores and presents new takes on many critical issues in fundraising, and curates examples of historical charity advertising and direct mail on Pinterest.

You can find Mark on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

*

For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

For the opportunity to submit questions to future guests, sign up to our e-mails via the banner at the top of the website.  

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Keywords: Running a Charity, Start-up, Learning from Failure, Mindset Transformation, Money Mindset, Toxic Perfectionism, Succession Planning, Risk-Taking, Creative Potential.

Description:

Imagine turning personal loss into a legacy of hope, inspiration, and creativity.

The incredible journey of Jennie Cashman Wilson, founder and CEO of the Abram Wilson Foundation, tugs at our heartstrings, as we explore love, loss, and the transformational power of music.

Tune into this episode to discover how Jennie turned personal tragedy into an inspiring legacy. Navigating the stormy waters of founding a charity, Jenny shares her initial struggles, from defining the organization's purpose to overcoming her discomfort in asking for financial support. The story of the Abram Wilson Foundation unfolds, detailing its formation in the early years, the support system Jennie assembled, and the crucial elements to tripling the charity's turnover—mindset transformation and financial tracking.

We wrap up our heartfelt discussion by delving into Jennie's recent endeavour—an autobiographical children's book, written in just 50 sentences. This audacious venture intertwines themes of fear, courage, hope, loss, and love, mirroring Jennie's personal journey. Jennie also candidly shares her decision to step down as CEO after 11 years, the importance of fostering a culture of agency, the impact of toxic perfectionism and learning from failure. This episode is more than an exploration of Jennie's life and work—it's a treasure trove of wisdom, inspiration, and invaluable advice for anyone involved in charity work.

Get the book here: Becoming Brave.

Jennie Cashman Wilson

Jennie’s background is in arts fundraising and working with young people, which is how she met her late husband, the acclaimed jazz trumpeter Abram Wilson. The pair worked on numerous projects together up until Abram’s passing in 2012, after which Jennie set up the Abram Wilson Foundation. The charity opens doors to the music industry for minoritised young talent and have grown to work with over 200 performing artists and 650 young people. Jennie has been listed in WISE100, a national index recognising the top women in social enterprise and is a recipient of the WACL Talent Award. Becoming Brave is Jennie’s first children’s book.

You can find out more about the Abram Wilson Foundation here, Jennie’s current work here and you can find Jennie on Instagram.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

*

For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

For the opportunity to submit questions to future guests, sign up to our e-mails via the banner at the top of the website.  

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Purposely Podcast:

Established in 1988, DSC has been a trusted resource in the non-profit sector, providing vital research, high-quality training, and ongoing support to charity leaders and volunteers. In addition, DSC advocates on behalf of organisations facing tough challenges, from economic crises to the recent global pandemic.

With over two decades of leadership experience at DSC, Debra has played a crucial role in empowering charities to fulfil their missions despite limited resources and frequent obstacles. She proudly emphasises DSC's position as a sector leader, offering unique resources that remain relevant, even as competition has emerged. Debra also discusses the evolving nature of the sector, highlighting shifts in attitudes and approaches.

One example of this shift is the increasing transparency in funding practices. Debra recalls a time when DSC faced criticism from trusts and foundations for publishing their information in directories. Nowadays, organizations inquire why they haven't been included, indicating a sector-wide move toward openness.

DSC operates as a self-sustaining charity, generating revenue through resource sales. By reducing reliance on grants, Debra explains how DSC maintains the freedom to express its views and remain critical without concerns about offending funders or losing support. This financial independence enables DSC to stay true to its purpose.

Debra underscores the importance of staying connected to the core purpose of the work rather than becoming fixated on specific methods. This mindset has allowed her and the DSC team to continuously find innovative ways to support charities. Their agility and responsiveness to emerging needs have resulted in valuable services.

Throughout our conversation, Debra candidly shares her experiences as a leader at DSC. She openly acknowledges that she didn't have all the answers when she first joined the organisation and describes how her leadership approach has evolved over the years.

Debra believes that people tend to emulate what they observe as effective. She points out that traditional leadership and management followed a predominantly male and patriarchal paradigm, emphasizing growth and similar metrics. However, she highlights the success of alternative leadership styles that have emerged, challenging the old norms.

In leadership, the primary objective is to ensure team members are aligned with the vision. Authenticity lies in supporting and enabling individuals to bring out their best to achieve that shared vision. Debra emphasises the importance of distinguishing between being authentic to the leadership role and simply proclaiming, "This is me, take it or leave it," which is unsuitable for effective leadership.

Drawing from a powerful analogy, Debra passionately addresses the need for charities to go beyond providing temporary solutions and address the root causes of societal issues. She highlights the duty of charities to not only rescue people from the river but also go upstream and fix the source of the problem. While acknowledging that complete eradication of issues may be unattainable, she emphasises the importance of advocacy and voice in driving preventive measures.

The responsibility to lead the sector in the right direction is significant, but DSC's unwavering commitment to empowering organisations and fostering positive change has guided them for the past 20 years.

"Our focus has always been on helping organizations improve their practices and achieve their goals, whether it's fundraising, governance, leadership, or other vital areas."

Keywords: Charities, social enterprises, cross-sector partnerships, serial co-founder, networking, relationships.

Description:

Ever dreamt of striking an audacious partnership, but held back because you thought it was too bold?

In this episode, we welcome Oli Barrett, a serial co-founder whose remarkable journey has seen him setting up impactful social purpose initiatives, from startups to collaborations with renowned global brands and governments. Oli’s story is a testament to the power of entrepreneurial spirit and innovative partnerships.

This episode is packed with practical advice and strategies for anyone looking to build partnerships and network effectively. Oli divulges his top tips for networking, which include making audacious moves like cold-calling some of the world's leading ad agencies. He also shares wisdom on building credibility swiftly, crafting personalized emails, and setting triggers to avoid overwhelming people with information. This enlightening conversation is a must-listen for anyone aspiring to enhance their networking skills and bring their ideas to life.

Special offer:

Build a Better Network, the 12 part audio course developed by Oli with guest contributors. Oli has kindly offered all listeners a 20% discount – use the code BABN20 – and there is also a scholarship scheme, which charities can take up to offer the course for free to their beneficiaries or you can access it if you find yourself out of work. E-mail the team at [email protected] to take up the scholarship offer.

Oli Barrett MBE

Oli Barrett is a serial co-founder who enjoys making useful connections between people and ideas. He created Tenner, the UK’s largest schools enterprise challenge, in which over 250,000 pupils have made money and made a difference in a month, starting with just ten pounds. He co-founded Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), the social venture, which has helped thousands of young people to fix their own youth clubs. He is also the founder of TOTS (Turn on the Subtitles), the children’s literacy campaign.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

*

For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

For the opportunity to submit questions to future guests, sign up to our e-mails via the banner at the top of the website.  

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake

Keywords: Innovation, Programme Lifecycle, Impact Evaluation, Partnerships, Social Enterprise, Winning Scotland, Charity, Social Change, Board Champions.

Description: Can you imagine crafting a future where children are not just surviving their circumstances but thriving in them? That's precisely what Zahra Hedges, the dynamic CEO of Winning Scotland, is striving to achieve. In our engrossing chat, Zahra opens up about the charity’s ambitious mission to revolutionize Scotland’s social fabric, focusing on empowering children and young people to develop resilience and confidence. We dissect their approach and discuss Zahra’s experience of moving from running her own business to supporting social enterprises to being charity CEO. We also discuss the importance of getting the most out of your board of trustees.

Zahra Hedges

Zahra Hedges is CEO of Winning Scotland. Before that she worked for the Scottish Government in children and young people's mental health, and the CEIS Group where Zahra supported social enterprises. Zahra is also an advisor to Samtaler, which helps large companies to create social value, a board member of community justice organisation SACRO and a mentor with MCR Pathways and Pilotlight.

*

If you enjoy the podcast, please do follow us and leave a rating / review. 

*

The Charity Impact Podcast aims to help you increase your charity’s income and impact by sharing the experience and expertise of our guests.

Whatever your role or level of experience, we think you’ll be inspired and informed by our guests who are absolutely the stars of the show!

We aim to showcase a diverse range of guests, including people whose voices have been less heard as well as established leaders in our field.

So, whether you are CEO, fundraiser, trustee, manager, practitioner, funder, or any other flavour of social leader, welcome to the Charity Impact Podcast!

*

For episode notes with links to resources and organisations mentioned in this episode, please visit https://www.kedaconsulting.co.uk/charity-impact-podcast/ 

For the opportunity to submit questions to future guests, sign up to our e-mails via the banner at the top of the website.  

If you have any questions, feedback or enquiries regarding the podcast, you can reach us by e-mail at [email protected]

Follow the Charity Impact Podcast:

Twitter: @CharityImpactPd

LinkedIn: @Charity Impact Podcast

Facebook: @Charity Impact Podcast 

Follow our host, Alex Blake:

Twitter: @alexblake_KEDA

LinkedIn: @Alex Blake