Equity in everywhere
One of the joys of working with charity clients to support their equity, diversity, and inclusion plans is helping them to connect the dots with strategy and mission. This means working with the organisation as a whole on everything and these are the projects I've often found most satisfying. This work often leads to some soul-searching and revelations, particularly when, as we always do, we find the deep connection between achieving a charity's purpose and working more equitably.
But some teams find it easier than others to connect and embed equity to their work so I've often found myself working deeper and more intentionally with those teams, leading workshop discussions and one to one conversations to help unearth insights and build action plans. Having been a fundraiser for much of my charity career, it is often the fundraising teams that I feel drawn to. Once a fundraiser always a fundraiser!
So I'm really pleased that my colleague, Jaz Nannar, and I have the opportunity to speak about equity and how supporters experience charities at the Fundraising Everywhere Supporter Experience conference on May 22.
If you buy tickets to the conference here, I get some commission which would be marvellous! So...ad alert!
I've been enjoying focusing my work more on one to one support to charity leaders recently. I've always gained huge pride in seeing people I've mentored as they flourish in their careers.
One mentee from a few years ago recently became a Chief Executive and I'm so proud to see her shine. I also love supporting people who are at a crossroads or experiencing career challenges. So, do let me know if there's anything I can help you with.
Day of the Week 📆
Today, it is 75 years since the Schuman Declaration which laid the foundations of what became the European Union. The idea was that pooling resources, coal and steel production, and bringing together the economic interests of neighbouring countries would make war less likely.
World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.
Those "creative efforts" are so needed today.
What am I reading? 📚
I've just finished reading Less: Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier. A real wake up call to the environmental damage of cheap, imported fashion, and even the notion of fashion itself.
There's a really useful list at the back of the book of UK producers and makers. I'm going to make sure I buy from them as much as possible.
What am I watching? 👀
I've been watching "Designated Survivor" and wishing Tom Kirkman was in the White House instead of the POTUS we're enduring.
What am I listening to?👂
My friends and I are still working our way through the 1001 albums to listen to before we die (via this handy generator). A new album to listen to is selected for us every day, Monday-Friday and we chat about them in our whatsapp group. We've been talking about pop music since 1982 and we're not going to stop now.
Generally, we're served up far too many blokes with guitars but this week we've had Janis Joplin, Tori Amos, Amy Winehouse, and Joan Armatrading. It's been a pretty good week.
Joy-giving things 😍
I'm sure it can't have escaped your attention that the rubbish collection workers in Birmingham, where I now live, have been on strike since 11 March.
In Birmingham, we have a sense of humour.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Lucy
I write this newsletter because I believe in sharing progressive ideas that help us work towards a truly equal world.
Share it with your friends so they can read it too 📣
Thank you!
ChangeOut is created by Lucy Caldicott. You can find more about my work at ChangeOut.org. If you’re looking to have a chat about culture, leadership, purpose, equity, or a facilitated team discussion about any of those things, get in touch.
You can also find me being work-orientated on Bluesky and LinkedIn. Or making little clips about life here in the West Midlands on Instagram.
If it’s your first time reading this newsletter, find out more here.