The Charity Show

Rethinking inclusion: RNIB and Scope on embedding lived experience in charities - with Anna Tylor & Mark Hodgkinson


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In this episode, Tim and Piers are joined by two of the sector’s leading voices on disability inclusion:

  • Anna Tylor, Chair of the Board of Trustees at RNIB

  • Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Scope, the disability equality charity.

Together, they discuss the evolution of inclusion - from challenging stereotypes to transforming public attitudes - and how two of the UK’s biggest charities are leading the way in terms of embedding lived experience into all aspects of their work.

In this episode, we explore:

  • ♿ Why lived experience in leadership matters and how RNIB and Scope bring disabled voices into decision-making.

  • 🧭 How boards can keep inclusion on the agenda without slipping into tick-box territory.

  • 💬 Moving from compliance to culture - what true accessibility looks like day to day.

  • 📈 The disability employment gap - why it’s still stubbornly wide and what needs to change.

  • 🤝 Allyship and collaboration - how non-disabled and disabled colleagues can drive change together.

  • 🧠 Tech and inclusion - opportunities, risks and why AI could be a game-changer for accessibility.

  • 🛠 Simple steps every charity can take to become more inclusive.


Tim and Piers look at the Poppy Appeal, now more than a century old, reflecting on its huge reach and the lasting support it provides for veterans and their families. They also discuss new CAF research showing two-thirds of charity leaders believe the sector’s health is “unwell,” with rising demand, burnout and financial strain topping the list. Finally, they touch on Mind’s latest report warning of a worsening youth mental-health crisis, with more young people struggling and long waits for help.

This week’s Small Charity Spotlight features Footprints Baby Loss, a small, volunteer-led charity offering peer support and training for families and health professionals after baby loss, and Contact, the long-standing charity helping families with disabled children through advice, practical support and campaigning for better rights and services.


Useful links

  • RNIB – rnib.org.uk

  • Scope – scope.org.uk

  • Footprints Baby Loss

  • Contact (for families with disabled children) – contact.org.uk

  • Royal British Legion (Poppy Appeal)

  • Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) – sector wellbeing / reports – cafonline.org

  • Mind – youth mental health research – mind.org.uk

  • The Good Studio – thegoodstudio.co.uk


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This episode is produced by ⁠⁠The Good Studio⁠⁠ – Creating great content for good causes.From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at ⁠⁠www.thegoodstudio.co.uk ⁠⁠




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The Charity ShowBy Tim Beynon and Piers Townley