Change Conversations: 2023 in Focus

GOOD is joined by 4 leading charity Chief Executives, discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the new year, plus their predictions, concerns and hopes for the sector: 

• Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive, Mind 
• Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group 
• Lindsey MacDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast 
• Mark Russell, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society 

Moderated by Nilesha Chauvet, Managing Director of GOOD Agency. 

Here are 3 key takeouts: 

1. The importance of kindness and building resilience 

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, opens with a reminder that it’s people that make up organisations, and that it’s vital to not lose sight of that as a leader. All four panellists agree that the cost of living crisis over the past year has affected teams, as well as beneficiaries. Russell emphasises the power of kindness, and offers a message that we need to be more focused on looking after our teams, and building the resilience of our teams, in order to provide the best possible service to those who really need it. 

2. A new era of collaboration and communication

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group mentions that one of the most positive moments of 2022 was when the sector collaborated to push through the benefits uplift. This collaboration and communication between organisations is one that all four panellists wish to see continue and grow in 2023 and beyond. Dr Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive of Mind, says that charities need to take up the opportunity to push through changes they want to see with better collaboration. The role of children and young people’s organisations will be to collaborate and then accelerate and amplify children and young people to affect their own change. 

Lindsey MacDonald, Chief Executive of Magic Breakfast, shares her hope that this collaboration will lead to “radical reform.” There aren’t solutions to so many problems facing those the charities support but by working together and exploring new radical ways of thinking, true change will happen. 

3. Don’t lose sight of long-term

MacDonald also shares her concern that organisations need to be wary of being too reactive in response to the cost of living crisis. She recognises that there’s a lot of support needed immediately, but that charities need to maintain long term focus in order to secure support for their beneficiaries for years to come. Garnham agrees, and ends the event by citing the need for ambition: charities need to keep going and have a long-term vision. Russell shares a similar view, that in order to effect change you have to keep moving forward, building relationships, mobilising people and building a movement. 

A huge thanks to our panel for their honest and thoughtful discussion.  

You can also read about the event in Third Sector on the link here.