Third Sector Podcast

Lucinda Rouse and Emily Harle are joined by Fozia Irfan, director of impact and influence at BBC Children in Need, to reflect on the challenges facing charities and grantmakers in the present funding climate.

Fozia describes the role of funders such as Children in Need to convene networks spread across the UK and create communities of practice to provide more holistic and structural solutions to issues such as child poverty.

She stresses her belief that funders should do more than simply issue grants by using their platform to empower and, where necessary, change public perceptions about the communities they support.

Also in the episode, Emily and Lucinda discuss the mixed reaction to the news that the National Citizen Service programme will close in March 2025.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

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Lucinda Rouse and Andy Ricketts are joined by Zahra Hedges, chief executive of the youth empowerment charity Winning Scotland, and Helen Rafferty, senior programme manager at the education charity Shine.

Zahra explains how a theory of change has helped Winning Scotland to identify and prioritise its most fruitful activities and reassure its board and donors. She provides insight into how the charity has developed a more streamlined data collection process.

Helen describes how Shine is using a theory of change to make evaluation an integral and ongoing part of its programmes. She lays out the collaborative development process which enables stakeholders to reflect on and challenge assumptions.

Also in the episode, senior reporter Emily Harle shares snippets from her interview with Acevo’s chief executive, Jane Ide, in which they discuss pay and equality in the voluntary sector following the release of Acevo's Pay and Equalities Survey 2024.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

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Lucinda Rouse and Emily Burt are joined by Jack Boardman, head of development at the telemarketing agency Angel, and Phoebe Cooper, marketing manager in the RSPCA’s donor development team.

Jack describes the power of a telephone conversation in building rapport with new and potential supporters. He explains the fusion between digital lead generation and telephone conversion in response to changing media consumption habits.

Phoebe provides insight into the RSPCA’s Gift Aid telephone campaign, which was responsible for 98.3 per cent of new Gift Aid opt-ins in its first year.

Charity Changed My Life features the story of Sarah, whose participation in the Bags of Taste home cooking programme has helped her manage the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

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Read the transcript.

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Lucinda Rouse and Dami Adewale are joined by Nadia Alomar, chief executive of Clore Social Leadership, and Beki Osborne, chief executive of Sexual Assault & Abuse Support Service, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

Nadia describes the changes she has witnessed in voluntary sector leadership in recent years, from the effects of resource scarcity to an increased emphasis on inclusivity, wellbeing and personal development.

She suggests how people with lived experience can be better supported to take up leadership roles and provides ideas for developing leadership skills on a limited budget.

Beki shares the pressures she encountered on taking up her chief executive position aged 30. She calls for an overhaul of the structures governing third sector organisations to support innovation and make younger leaders feel more welcome.

Also in the episode, senior news reporter Emily Harle provides insight into the Charity Commission’s inquiry into the transgender youth charity Mermaids. She explains why its stipulations regarding the Cass Review might be perceived as controversial.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

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Lucinda Rouse and Emily Burt are joined by Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA, to reflect on his six years at the charity before he moves on to the top job at the NSPCC.

Chris likens the reality of navigating the RSPCA’s significant public profile to operating in a goldfish bowl.

He stresses the importance of stimulating engagement with the charity’s extensive branch network to instigate culture change and provides his thoughts on the voluntary sector under Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.

Also in the episode, Lucinda and Emily hear from Maddy Desforges, chief executive of the local infrastructure body Navca, about new guidance for charities navigating Section 114 notices. 

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

Tell us what you think of the Third Sector Podcast! Please take five minutes to let us know how we can bring you the most relevant, useful content. To fill in the survey, click here.

Read the transcript.

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Lucinda Rouse and Emily Burt are joined by Jayne Taylor and Matt Jones, chief executive and chair of the Elephant Group, a charity that helps state-educated students access top universities.

Matt, who founded the Elephant Group in 2018, describes how his role has evolved since the arrival of Jayne as the charity’s first chief executive in 2022. This has included moving away from lower level operational issues and focusing on the big strategic questions to support the Elephant Group’s transformation from a start-up to an established organisation.

Jayne describes the challenge of balancing her priorities of delivering on the charity’s purpose while overseeing an internal operational restructure. She explains how Matt’s approach has enabled her to perform her role to the best of her abilities through a space of mutual trust and safety.

Also in the episode, senior news reporter Emily Harle joins Lucinda and Emily Burt to reflect on the recent pause in funding by several grantmakers in response to an overwhelming level of demand. They cite the list of funders compiled by the trust and foundations fundraising consultant Joanna Jeffery.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

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Lucinda Rouse shadows Charlotte Holmes, head of philanthropy at Leukaemia UK, to experience the day-to-day realities of a job in major donor fundraising.

Charlotte outlines the range of approaches used to identify connections and nurture relationships with existing and potential donors, from individuals to trusts and foundations and corporate partners. 

She describes her career path, starting in the box office at Chelsea Football Club, and shares tips for anyone seeking to enter the philanthropy world. 

Lucinda follows Charlotte during preparations for the charity’s flagship fundraising event, Who’s Cooking Dinner? at The Dorchester hotel, and joins a staff and supporter visit to the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health. 

There she speaks to Dr Noelia Che, whose research fellowship is funded by Leukaemia UK, and Professor Owen Williams, head of the institute’s cancer section.

Lucinda is joined by Third Sector’s editor, Emily Burt, to reflect on the visits and consider the wider climate for major donor giving. 

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

Tell us what you think of the Third Sector Podcast! Please take five minutes to let us know how we can bring you the most relevant, useful content. To fill in the survey, click here.

Read the transcript.

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Lucinda Rouse and Emily Harle are joined by Manny Amadi, chief executive of C&E Advisory, to discuss the company’s latest Corporate-Non-Profit Partnerships Barometer.

Manny talks about how the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which affects how companies report on their social and environmental impact, will have an impact on new corporate partnerships.

He flags the gap between company and charity expectations around earmarked and flexible funding and shares learnings from C&E Advisory’s use of generative AI to co-author the barometer.

Charity Changed My Life features the story of Stanley Anigbogu, whose participation in the Swarovski Foundation’s Creatives for Our Future programme helped grow his renewable energy start-up LightEd.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

Tell us what you think of the Third Sector Podcast! Please take five minutes to let us know how we can bring you the most relevant, useful content. To fill in the survey, click here.

Read the transcript.

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Lucinda Rouse and Emily Burt are joined by Alicia Nagar, head of people, wellbeing and equity at Mental Health First Aid England, and Samantha Stapley, chief operations and people officer at Trussell.

Alicia describes the complex mental health challenges faced by people working in the voluntary sector. She outlines the need for a holistic approach to organisational support, with Mental Health First Aiders forming a part.

Sam explains how Trussell is responding to the mental health needs of its staff, volunteers and food bank users as the charity grows in response to sky-rocketing demand. She stresses the importance of listening to staff rather than making assumptions about the most valuable forms of support.

Charity Changed My Life features the story of Opinya Lilly Okello, whose farming enterprise in northern Uganda has become more profitable since she received training from Feed the Minds through the NGO ACSET Uganda.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

Tell us what you think of the Third Sector Podcast! Please take five minutes to let us know how we can bring you the most relevant, useful content. To fill in the survey, click here.

Read the transcript.

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Lucinda Rouse travels to the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, to meet the charity’s senior statistician, Stuart Norris, and find out about his pathway to a career in data science.

Stuart describes how he combined a background in ecology with his long-standing interest in computers to find his niche in the voluntary sector. He explains how his team combines open source data with internal information to create platforms that are used to inform the charity’s strategic decision-making.

He suggests ways in which applicants to data roles can stand out, and stresses the importance of soft skills on top of technical know-how.

Lucinda is joined by Third Sector’s editor, Emily Burt, to reflect on the visit. 

And senior reporter Emily Harle shares snippets from her recent interview with Dan Corry, outgoing chief executive of the think tank NPC.

Do you have stories of people whose lives have been transformed for the better thanks to your charity? If so, we’d like to hear them! All it takes is a short voice message to be featured on this podcast. Email [email protected] for further information.

Tell us what you think of the Third Sector Podcast! Please take five minutes to let us know how we can bring you the most relevant, useful content. To fill in the survey, click here.

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