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James Brindle spent nearly 20 years as a journalist before taking the helm at one of the UK's oldest charities. In this episode, the CEO of the Journalists' Charity joins Tim and Piers to unpack an extraordinary history, one that starts with Charles Dickens in 1864 and now carries the patronage of Queen Camilla. From financial hardship to online abuse, James explains what modern journalism support really looks like. In this episode... The Journalists' Charity was founded in 1864 by Charles Dickens, who served as its first chairman, with a royal charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1890James Brindle's journey from nearly two decades in broadcast journalism, including setting up television channels, to becoming a charity CEOThe realities driving journalists to seek support, from freelance financial instability and redundancy to rising online abuse and mental health pressureHow the charity's "Lockdown Without Journalism" campaign during COVID reconnected the public with the value of the profession and drove tens of thousands of pounds in donationsThe newly launched Queen Camilla Future of Journalism Awards, offering cash support, mentoring and recognition to journalists starting their careersWhy pride and the word "charity" itself can be a barrier to journalists asking for help, and how the sector is working to change thatGuest links The Journalists' Charity: https://journalistscharity.org.uk/James Brindle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbrindleceo/ Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

Changing your charity's name is never just a logo refresh. On this episode of The Charity Show, Tim Beynon and Piers Townley are joined by Zoe Conn (Fundraising and Development Director) and Keira Park (Marketing and Comms Manager) from Alongside, formerly Julian House, to unpack how the Bath-based charity rebuilt its identity from the ground up after a legal dispute forced a name change. From stakeholder research to donor retention, this is a masterclass in how to lead a rebrand from inside a small charity team, without a big agency and without losing the trust you've spent decades building. In this episode: Why Alongside chose to treat a legally forced name change as a strategic opportunity, not just a compliance problemHow the team ran stakeholder consultation with donors, staff and trustees at every stage of the naming and design process, checking back in repeatedly rather than asking once and moving onWhy they decided to lead the rebrand in-house, using targeted external support from a specialist agency rather than a full-service consultancyThe practical challenges of a charity rebrand rollout: budgeting, running down old stock, IT systems, and keeping "formerly Julian House" visible during the transitionHow the comms and fundraising teams managed donor anxiety around the change, including direct debit continuity and stewardship of long-standing supportersAdvice for any charity considering a rebrand: do the brief work before you touch a single name, and be ready to article your due diligence to a nervous board Learn more about Alongside's work supporting people facing social exclusion across the South West of England, and follow their journey as the new brand continues to roll out. If you're leading, or thinking about leading, a charity rebrand of your own, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch at [email protected]. Know a small charity doing brilliant work that deserves a shout out on the show? Drop us a line at the same address, we'd love to feature them. If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate and review us wherever you get your podcasts. It really does help other charity people find us. Guest links: Alongside: alongsidecharity.org.uk/DCHS: boost-dchs.orgAlex, The Leukodystrophy Charity: alextlc.org/ Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

One in three charity comms professionals is currently burnt out, and an equal number are planning to leave the sector altogether. In their landmark 50th episode, Tim Beynon and Piers Townley are joined by returning guest Adeela Warley, Chief Executive of CharityComms, to unpack what her organisation's latest Salary and Organisational Culture Survey reveals about burnout across charity communications teams, and why the values-driven nature of our sector makes it so hard for people to say no. In this episode: Why 33% of charity comms professionals are experiencing burnout, and what's driving middle managers to feel the squeeze hardestHow values-driven work in the charity sector can tip commitment into overwork and self-sacrifice, and the warning signs to watch forWhy burnout isn't confined to senior leaders, and how junior and entry-level comms staff are equally at riskPractical first steps for CEOs and senior teams wanting to build a burnout-resistant organisational cultureAdvice for small charities working with limited resources and no dedicated HR functionSector news: the proposed under-16 social media ban and its implications for charity communicators, plus new Charity Commission findings on threats and intimidation faced by charity staff and trustees Guest links and resources: Adeela Warley LinkedInCharityComms: charitycomms.org.ukCharityComms Salary and Organisational Culture Survey: charitycomms.org.uk/salary-and-organisational-culture-survey-2025CharityComms Wellbeing Guide for communicators: charitycomms.org.uk/wellbeing-guideCharityComms "signal template" resource: charitycomms.org.uk/the-signal-frameworkBank The Food (app connecting food donors to local food banks): bankthefood.com/Slade Gardens Community Play Association, Stockwell and Lambeth: sladeadventure.co.uk/ Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

Sally Williams returns to The Charity Show to talk governance, not philanthropy this time. As chair of trustees at Veterans With Dogs, she's spent two and a half years learning what it really takes to lead a small charity through a founder-to-CEO transition, all while holding down her day job as Head of Philanthropy at the Royal College of Physicians. Tim and Piers dig into the realities of trusteeship, the impact of assistance dogs on veterans living with PTSD and other trauma-related conditions, and why being small doesn't mean being unambitious. What's in this episode: Sally's 24 years in the British Army and how that experience shaped her move into charity governanceThe origin story of Veterans With Dogs, founded after one veteran noticed his own assistance dog helping an entire support groupWhat it's really like governing a small charity through a leadership transition, including stepping into operational gaps without a CEO in placeHow the charity balances demonstrating impact for funders with protecting the privacy and dignity of veterans and their dogsThe "magic formula" for building an effective board of trustees, and why lived experience matters as much as governance experienceThird sector news: the London Marathon's move to a two-day event in 2027, and the Big Give's Summer Campaign for Small Charity WeekPlus the usual small charity shoutouts, this week featuring Roundabout Drama Therapy and MK Cat Rescue. Useful links: Veterans With Dogs: veteranswithdogs.org.uk/Roundabout Dramatherapy: roundaboutdramatherapy.org.uk/MK Cat rescue: mk-cat-rescue.org/Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

Air ambulances are among the most trusted charities in the UK, but most people have no idea how they're funded, what it costs to keep them flying, or the sheer scale of engagement needed to make it all happen. In this episode, Tim and Piers sit down with Keith Wilson, Director of Income and Engagement at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, to find out exactly that. Keith spent a decade at a children's hospice before joining HIOWAA, and in the years since, he's overseen a major transformation in how the charity thinks about fundraising — or rather, why it doesn't call it fundraising at all. He's also led one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the charity's history: a brand new operational airbase near Southampton Airport, complete with a public visitor centre. It's a fascinating conversation about leadership, engagement, legacy income, volunteers, and the very human reality of funding a life-saving emergency service entirely through charitable support. In this episode How Keith stumbled into the charity sector via a ghost hunt at a Winchester theatreHow air ambulances actually work and why every one is differentWhy HIOWAA doesn't use the word "fundraising" and what they do insteadThe sim van: a flight simulator in a transit van that opened unexpected doorsThe new airbase and visitor centre and how it creates year-round engagementWhat it costs to keep an air ambulance operational (the answer might surprise you)The role of regular giving, legacy income, and why one major gift can change everythingVolunteers: why 80% of HIOWAA's community events are entirely volunteer-ledThe toughest leadership lesson Keith has learnedLooking ahead: what the next five years hold for the charity, hopes and honest concernsFind out more Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance: hiowaa.orgHIOWAA on Facebook: facebook.com/hiowaaHIOWAA on LinkedIn and Instagram: @HIOWAAGet involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

You've heard of match funding. But do you really know how to make it work for your charity? In this episode, we sit down with Alex Day, Managing Director of Big Give, the UK's largest digital match funding platform, to find out what separates the charities that smash their targets from those that don't, and why this tool is far more accessible than many smaller charities assume. From the origins of Big Give to a bold goal of raising £1 billion by 2030, this is a conversation packed with practical insight for fundraisers of every size. What you'll hear in this episode How match funding actually works and why it's simpler than you thinkWhat smaller charities need to have in place before applying to Big GiveThe most common mistake charities make with match funding campaignsWhat the charities that consistently smash their targets do differentlyHow Big Give is evolving as the fundraising landscape shiftsUseful links Big Give: https://donate.biggive.org/Alex Day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-day-63b97b62/Big Give Christmas Challenge: https://biggive.org/blog/2026/02/09/reflecting-on-the-2025-christmas-challenge/Love Oliver: https://loveoliver.org.ukHartcliffe City Farm: https://hartcliffecityfarm.org.ukGet involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

We often talk about the power of giving. But what if the way we give is part of the problem? In this episode, we sit down with Professor Niki Banks, co-founder of One World Together, to explore a bold challenge to the traditional charity model, and why ensuring that more of your money helps the people and projects you want it to, may mean giving differently. From funding flows to frontline impact, this is a conversation that might just change how you think about donations. What you’ll hear in this episode The hidden complexity behind big charity funding modelsWhy small, community-led organisations can outperform larger charitiesThe case for unrestricted funding and why flexibility mattersHow One World Together claims to make donations up to 40x more impactful.Useful links: One World Together: https://oneworldtogether.org.uk/Niki on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-banks-03249459/From Me To You: https://www.frommetoyouletters.co.uk/Ailsa's Aim: https://www.ailsasaim.co.uk/Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

In episode 45 of The Charity Show, Tim and Piers sit down with Martin Bisiker, founder of Legasee Educational Trust, for a fascinating conversation about one of the most quietly urgent missions in the heritage sector: capturing the testimonies of veterans before their stories are lost forever. Martin's path to founding Legasee is an unconventional one. A career in television - including filming Julia Bradbury from a microlight over Victoria Falls - gave him both a love of storytelling and a growing unease about what was disappearing. When the last surviving First World War veteran passed away, something clicked. Armed with a camera and a sense of urgency, he began interviewing Second World War veterans, and what started as a personal project became a registered charity in 2012. Legasee Educational Trust now holds an archive of over 700 filmed interviews, freely available to view online, spanning conflicts from the Second World War through to more recent campaigns. Together, Tim, Piers and Martin explore: How Legasee grew from a nagging feeling that something important was about to be lost, and the chance encounter with a former Age UK executive that helped turn a personal project into a charityWhy Martin insists the archive is freely accessible to everyone - not just researchers and academics - and the thinking behind that decision from the very beginningThe art of the veteran interview: why open questions matter, how you create the conditions for people to open up on camera, and the moments that stay with you long after the recording endsThe new Aden Emergency Project - a forgotten conflict from 1963 to 1967, now the subject of a National Lottery Heritage Fund-backed project based in Blackpool, including a remarkable collaboration with a drama college to bring veteran testimony to the stageLegasee's growing podcast output, from the acclaimed five-part D-Day series to the Berlin Airlift, and how volunteer expertise has shaped the quality of every episodeThe Local Heroes programme - Martin's plan to teach young people how to build their own archives, and why that feels like the natural next step for Legasee's missionUseful links: Legasee Educational Trust – https://www.legasee.org.ukNational Literacy Trust / National Year of Reading – https://www.literacytrust.org.ukSheppey Pulse Network – https://www.sheppeypulsenetwork.co.uk/HANAH – Help Against Bullying and Mental Health – https://www.hab-antibullying.com/The Good Studio – Great content for good causes – https://www.thegoodstudio.co.ukGet involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

In episode 44 of The Charity Show, Tim and Piers sit down with Kotryna Temcinaite, Head of Research Communications at Breast Cancer Now, for an illuminating conversation about one of the most specialised and often misunderstood roles in the charity sector. Kotryna's journey is a fascinating one: from biochemistry undergraduate to cancer biology PhD researcher, to discovering that what she really loved wasn't the lab work itself, but the stories that came out of it. A decade into her career in charity research communications, she leads a team of four science communicators at Breast Cancer Now, working across press and PR, fundraising, social media, patient engagement and more. Her conversation with Tim and Piers is honest, practical and packed with insight -whether you work in comms, fundraising, research or leadership. Together, Tim, Piers and Kotryna explore: Why science communication is about far more than just "translating" research into plain English and why that framing undersells the roleHow to tell a scientific story that audiences find genuinely interesting, without losing accuracy or oversimplifying, and the importance of putting research in context so it means something to people living with the conditionHow to build genuine relationships with researchers, manage their expectations around media coverage, and support them without dropping them in the deep endThe challenge of evidencing the value of a comms team when so much of the work happens behind the scenes — and why misinformation and AI both pose growing risks for research-led charitiesHow Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer Research joined forces to fund research into metastatic cancer spreading to the bone, and what the sector can achieve when organisations work together rather than in competitionUseful links: Breast Cancer Now – https://www.breastcancernow.orgRipple Suicide Prevention – https://www.ripple.org.ukWestminster Hall debate transcript (Hansard) – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-03-03/debates/A6B461D9-CECF-4376-880B-9365667EC9B7/SmallCharitySectorGreat Gift Aid Hunt 2026 – Swiftaid – https://www.swiftaid.co.ukCentre for Social Justice – https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.ukBoys in Mind – https://www.boysinmind.org.ukAcuro – https://www.acuro.org.ukThe Good Studio – Great content for good causes – https://www.thegoodstudio.co.uklisaconnell.com and influentialstars.org Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠[email protected]⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: ⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

In episode 43 of The Charity Show, Tim and Piers sit down with John May OBE CVO, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, for a wide-ranging and genuinely fascinating conversation about what it really takes to lead one of the UK's most recognisable charities at serious scale. Cats Protection is approaching its centenary, operates with around 1,000 staff and over 10,000 volunteers, and draws 50% of its income from legacies. John brings a career spanning the Scout movement, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise to his role - and that deep background in volunteer-driven organisations shapes everything about how he thinks about leadership, culture and change. Together, Tim, Piers and John explore: Why the balance of power between volunteers and staff has shifted over the past 40 years and where the "sweet spot" really liesHow volunteering is changing, from micro-volunteering and bite-sized commitments to the challenge of aging branch committeesWhy Cats Protection is moving away from a one-size-fits-all volunteering model towards a more flexible, mixed ecosystem approachWhether you need to have been a volunteer yourself to lead a volunteer-powered organisationThe advice John would give smaller charities about getting the most from their volunteers, including the value of a proper skills auditHow Cats Protection has refreshed its brand and is using everything from a paper magazine to TikTok and its own podcast (The Cat's Got Your Tongue) to reach new audiences without alienating loyal supportersWhy John doesn't believe there's a crisis of generosity, but does think charities need to be far more sophisticated about the donor lifecycleThe surprising resilience of legacy income and the turnaround in Cats Protection's retail operationHow the charity's Lifeline programme supports survivors of domestic abuse by fostering their petsHis one piece of advice for charity leaders: trust your people, trust your intuition, and explore the tension when the two conflictAlso in this episode, Tim and Piers discuss the return of the Big Help Out (5th–8th June 2026, this time in partnership with The Big Lunch), fresh data from Marie Curie showing 47% of UK adults plan to volunteer in 2026, and findings from the Enthuse Charity Pulse Report showing 77% of charities saw fundraising income grow or hold stable in 2025. And in the Small Charity Spotlight, huge shoutouts to Tom's Trust - the UK's leading charity providing psychological support to children with brain tumours and their families - and Northumbria Blood Bikes, whose unpaid volunteers deliver blood, urgent medical supplies and donated breast milk across the North East of England, often overnight and largely unseen. Useful links: Cats Protection – https://www.cats.org.ukThe Cat's Got Your Tongue podcast – search on your usual podcast platformThe Big Help Out – https://thebighelpout.org.ukEnthuse Charity Pulse Report – https://enthuse.comTom's Trust – https://www.tomstrust.org.ukNorthumbria Blood Bikes – search Northumbria Blood BikesThe Good Studio – Creative content for good causes – https://www.thegoodstudio.co.ukGet involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at [email protected] a voice message to TheCharityShowFind every link you need: https://linktr.ee/thecharityshowEnjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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

In episode 42 of The Charity Show, Tim and Piers tackle one of the biggest questions facing charity comms teams right now: what do you do about social media - and is it finally time to walk away from X? The main conversation is a two-part deep dive with Madeleine Sugden, digital impact consultant and author of the blog that coined the phrase “the Charity Exodus” – a renewed wave of charities leaving X following recent changes to the platform. Madeline unpacks what’s really driving this shift, from content moderation failures and safeguarding concerns, to the introduction of AI tools like Grok and the breaking of what many charities see as ethical red lines. She explains why some organisations are leaving loudly, others quietly, and why for many charities the decision isn’t as straightforward as it might look from the outside. Together, Tim, Piers and Madeline explore: Why the charity sector feels particularly exposed on platforms like XThe reputational and ethical risks charities are weighing upWhether X is still the place for journalists, politicians and crisis commsWhat the data actually shows about engagement and reachThe rise of BlueSky and why some charities are thriving thereWhen mirror publishing works – and when it doesn’How AI-generated content is changing the rules for charity comWhy flexibility, values and clarity matter more than ever in social media strategyUseful links: Madeleine's blog: https://madlinblog.wordpress.com/ AP Cymru – Supporting neurodivergent children and families in Waleshttps://www.apcymru.org.uk The Muscle Help Foundation – Creating “Muscle Dreams” for young people with muscular dystrophyhttps://www.musclehelp.com The Good Studio – Creative content for good causeshttps://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show!💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In episode 41 of The Charity Show, Tim Beynon and Piers Townley dive into one of the most intriguing (and intimidating) areas of charity communications: working with celebrities, influencers and content creators. Joining Tim for a deep-dive conversation is Rachel Braier, a PR and celebrity consultant who specialises in matching public figures with charities in ways that are authentic, strategic and genuinely effective. Rachel brings a refreshingly honest, human take on what really works – and what definitely doesn’t – when charities try to harness influence. The episode kicks off with Tim and Piers reflecting on the long slog of January, the realities of freelance life, and what’s been keeping them busy across the sector – from Brain Tumour Awareness Month planning and celebrity partnerships, to the growing power of the charity freelance community. From there, Rachel helps demystify the world of celebrity engagement. She explains why the definition of “celebrity” has fundamentally changed, why lived experience matters more than follower numbers, and how charities – especially small and medium-sized ones – can stop feeling “cap in hand” and start recognising the value they bring to the table. The conversation also tackles some of the trickier realities charities face, including: Why influencer and celebrity engagement isn’t just about reach anymore How charities should approach agents (and why timing and instinct matter) The rise – and serious underestimation – of micro-influencers How to think about stewardship, not just one-off asks Managing reputational risk, cancel culture and crisis moments Supporting staff wellbeing when working closely with celebrities with lived experience Alongside the main interview, Tim and Piers break down the latest charity sector news, including: A new £11.5 million government fund aimed at strengthening partnerships between charities and local authorities Fresh insights from the Mass Participation Pulse report on the future of charity fundraising events, rising costs and shifting motivations for fundraisers As always, the episode wraps up by shining a spotlight on small charities doing brilliant work with limited resources, including Canine Partners and the Children and Young People’s Cancer Association, reinforcing why smaller organisations deserve more visibility across the sector. Whether you work in comms, fundraising, campaigns or leadership, this episode offers practical insight, reassurance and a confidence boost for any charity wondering whether celebrity or influencer engagement is really “for them”. Useful links Canine Partners – https://www.caninepartners.org.uk Children and Young People’s Cancer Association – https://www.cclg.org.uk/ Mass Participation Pulse Report – https://massive.co.uk/news/the-mass-participation-pulse-2026/ The Good Studio – Creative content for good causes: https://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show!💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Happy New Year and welcome to the first show of 2026.In this episode, Tim and Piers kick off the year by reflecting on life in the sector, the realities of charity leadership and what smaller organisations can teach the rest of us about agility, innovation and resilience. They’re joined by Sharon Bell, who shares her “squiggly career” journey from chartered accountant to Chief Executivem of Services For Education, trustee and education leader. It’s an honest conversation about governance, perspective, lived experience and why getting involved at different levels of the sector really matters. As always, the episode also shines a light on two brilliant small charities doing big things in their communities. In this episode, we cover: Why the New Year Honours List matters for charities – not just celebrities What a “squiggly career” really looks like in the charity sector Moving between large and small charities – and what each can learn from the other Governance challenges and opportunities at different organisational sizes Why smaller charities are often forced to be the most innovative Encouraging charity professionals to get involved as trustees, governors and volunteers Useful links Services for Education – https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk Baby Basics Northampton – https://baby-basics.org.uk/centre/northampton Friends and Places Together – https://www.friendsandplacestogether.org.uk New Year Honours List (UK Government) – https://www.gov.uk/honours NCVO – Trusteeship and Governance – https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/governance The Good Studio – Great content for good causes: https://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show!💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week, Tim and Piers are joined by Howard Taylor, CEO of Lumos Foundation, the international charity founded by J.K. Rowling that is working to end the institutionalisation of children around the world. Howard shares the staggering reality that four out of five children in orphanages aren’t orphans, the systems that separate families, and Lumos’s mission to help children grow up safely, with love, in families — not institutions. Along the way, Howard reflects on Lumos’s 20-year journey, the challenges and breakthroughs of global child protection, and what needs to change if we’re serious about protecting the world’s most vulnerable children. Between the conversation, Tim and Piers dive into the week’s charity news — from Giving Tuesday scam warnings to a controversial PETA Christmas ad — and shine the Small Charity Spotlight on two inspiring organisations supporting families through cancer. In this episode 🌍 Why 80% of children in orphanages worldwide have at least one living parent — and what drives family separation. 👶 Lumos’s mission to end the institutional care of children and rebuild family- and community-based alternatives. 🏠 What deinstitutionalisation really looks like on the ground — and why it’s complex, long-term work. 💬 Howard’s reflections on leadership, working internationally, and staying mission-focused in difficult contexts. 📣 How storytelling, language and public perception influence global child-protection policy. ❤️ The role of hope, partnership and persistence when tackling huge systemic problems.Useful links Lumos Foundation – https://www.wearelumos.org Milly’s Smiles – Childhood Cancer Charity - Millys Smiles The Brain Tumour Charity – https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org PETA UK – https://www.peta.org.uk The Good Studio – https://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠⁠⁠Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show!💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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 ⁠⁠⁠

Charity shops are often talked about but rarely understood — so this week we’re joined by Robin Osterley OBE, outgoing Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, to explore what’s really happening on the high street. Robin has led the CRA through retail turbulence, COVID, rising costs and huge shifts in public behaviour. Fresh from receiving his OBE, he shares a clear and honest picture of the charity retail landscape - what’s changing, what’s working, and where the real opportunities are. In this episode Why reports of mass charity shop closures are misleading The rise of bigger, better “superstores” and what’s driving the change Why profitability matters more than ever The cost challenge: wages, NI, inflation and volunteer shortages What really sells in charity shops (and what doesn’t) The impact of fast fashion on donations and waste How online platforms, reselling and AI are opening new opportunities The huge social value generated by charity retail Robin’s advice to charities considering expanding into retail Sector News A Donor Code of Conduct?The Chartered Institute of Fundraising calls for a code following new data showing fundraisers — particularly women — reporting unacceptable behaviour from donors. Key Takeaways Charity retail isn’t declining — it’s evolving Larger stores and better curation are improving profitability Online resale is supporting, not undermining, charity retail Fast fashion is the biggest operational challenge Charity shops remain powerful community hubs and sustainability champions For every £1 invested, over £7 of social value is created With the right model, retail can be a major strategic asset for charities Useful Links Charity Retail Associationhttps://www.charityretail.org.ukChartered Institute of Fundraising – https://www.ciof.org.ukThe Charity Shop Gift Cardhttps://www.thecharityshopgiftcard.co.ukBritish Heart Foundation – Online Shophttps://www.bhf.org.uk/shopEmmaus UK – Social Enterprise & Superstoreshttps://emmaus.org.ukShelter – Charity Shops & Visual Merchandising Workhttps://england.shelter.org.uk/shopOxfam Online Shophttps://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platformEmail us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠⁠Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. 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 ⁠⁠