Episodes
34. A tool to help fundraise in a much more efficient and effective way – Veronica Bamford-Deane, Managing Director, Work for Good
The GCBC team consider the challenging world of fundraising and find out about how charities can use digital technology to link up with businesses which want to support them. Keith, Camilla and David meet Veronica Bamford-Deane, Managing Director of the Work For Good platform.
33. We can get to young people in a way that businesses can’t – Paul Evans, CEO, Leadership Through Sport & Business
There’s a sporty theme to this latest podcast as the GCBC team are joined by Paul Evans, the CEO of Leadership Through Sport & Business. Paul explains how the charity uses sport to develop leadership skills and help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into careers with major firms.
32. Our Role is to Inject Hunger Back into the Discussion – Alysa Remtulla, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Magic Breakfast
The GCBC team are joined by Magic Breakfast’s Head of Policy and Campaigns to discuss how the pandemic has changed the charity’s delivery model, its plan to train up 10 campaigners with lived experience of food insecurity, and why Magic Breakfast won’t be entering a bid for the new government tender to supply school breakfasts.
31. I Wish They Would Listen – Steph Harland, CEO, Age UK
Steph Harland, CEO of Age UK, explains how the organisation has supported older people during the pandemic, the decision to permanently close about a third of Age UK’s charity shops, and shares her frustration at the government’s lack of action on a long-term solution for social care.
30. A Juggernaut Comes Along and People Get Missed – Mike Adamson, CEO, British Red Cross
Mike Adamson, CEO of the British Red Cross, discusses the charity’s role in responding to Covid, how he’s planning to manage a significant deficit in BRC’s income over the coming years, and what the pandemic has revealed about volunteering.
29. If we trust communities and work with them, we’ll get the best possible outcome – Matt Leach, CEO Local Trust and Sandi Phillips, Chair, Elthorne Pride
The GCBC team are joined by Matt Leach, CEO of Local Trust, which delivers Big Local: a 15-year programme distributing £1.15m of Lottery funding to 150 neighbourhoods across England to spend as they choose. They’re also joined by Sandi Phillips, Chair of Elthorne Pride Big Local in Islington, North London, who describes the impact of the initiative on her local community.
28. From equality towards social justice – Fozia Irfan OBE, Director of Children and Young People, BBC Children in Need
Fozia Irfan started her new job as Director of Children and Young People at BBC Children in Need in October 2020. Fozia explains why working for the organisation is her “dream job”, what she hopes to achieve in her new post, and why grantmakers need to be wary of imposing a model which charities must conform to.
27. These last months have shown that schools and teachers are on the frontlines – Catherine Roche, Chief Executive, Place2Be
Catherine Roche discusses the impact of the pandemic on children’s mental health; the benefits of having HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as the charity’s patron; and the charity’s plan, in partnership with Young Voices, to smash the Guinness World Record for “largest simultaneous sing” by leading thousands of children in a rendition of Bill Withers’s “Lovely Day” for Children’s Mental Health Week in February 2021.
26. Covid has exacerbated and thrown light on inequalities – Dr Wanda Wyporska, Executive Director, The Equality Trust
The Equality Trust works to improve quality of life in the UK by reducing all kinds of inequality. Its Executive Director Dr Wanda Wyporska discusses The Equality Trust’s current campaigns and how the events of this summer have focused people’s attention on structural inequality.
25. We have 300 Muslim response groups across the country just for Covid – Fadi Itani, CEO, Muslim Charities Forum
Fadi Itani, Chief Executive of the Muslim Charites Forum, discusses the response of Muslim communities to the pandemic; the importance of charity within Islam and the role of faith charities in the UK today.
24. We’ve achieved more working across traditional boundaries in the past 5 months, than in the previous 5 years combined – Mike Wilson, Executive Director, Pembroke House
Mike Wilson, Chief Executive of Pembroke House, discusses what it means to be a “settlement” in the 21st century; how his organisation transformed itself into a “food hub” during the pandemic, and why he hopes Pembroke House won’t need to operate in this way for long.
23. Charities aren’t always the good guys, and I want to rectify that – Gabby Edlin, Founder, Bloody Good Period
Gabby explains why she refuses to use traumatic stories to fundraise; her hope that BGP’s work will be done within a decade, and how Covid-19 has made her rethink how her organisation operates.
22. This government has to be shamed into re-engaging – Stephen Hale, Chief Executive, Refugee Action
Stephen explains how he’s dealing with a situation in which the government won’t pick up the phone to refugee charities; why the charity sector needs to tell a better story about itself; and how Covid-19 has provided a unique opportunity for collaboration with other refugee charities.
21. We need the whole of government to think about civil society not as the cleaners that come in after the mess has been made, but as the central agency of our society – Danny Kruger MP
The team chew over Danny Kruger MP’s new report into the role of charities in the UK’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. They’re joined by the author himself, who explains his proposal for a “national volunteer reserve”; how he thinks government and civil society could work together more effectively; and why there’s a role for big tech in turning libraries into twenty-first century community hubs.
20. For the first time in its history, Childline is not open 24/7 – Dame Esther Rantzen, Founder, Childline and The Silver Line
Dame Esther discusses the impact of the pandemic on the charities she founded, reflects on what decades of experience in the charity sector have taught her, and explains why it can be useful for a charity to have a “loose canon” around. This episode was recorded in August 2020.
19. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries anywhere in the world – Craig Bennett, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts
Keith, Camilla and David are joined by Craig Bennett, who started his new job as CEO of the Wildlife Trusts just as lockdown began. Craig explains what a herd of four bison are doing in the Kent countryside; what his previous job as CEO of Friends of Earth taught him about effective campaigning; and why he’s less than impressed with the government’s talk of a Green New Deal. Recorded July 2020
18. We raised over £100m in six weeks – Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together
As Captain Sir Tom Moore receives his knighthood from the Queen, the Good Charity Bad Charity team hear from the head of the charity he raised £33 million for: NHS Charities Together. Ellie tells the team how she’s coping with the rapid expansion of her organisation during Covid-19. This episode was recorded in July 2020.
17. The desire for connection and the liveness of what we provide is what’s being missed – Aidan Lang, General Director, Welsh National Opera.
Aidan Lang tells the Good Charity Bad Charity team that running a world-beating opera company is a challenge at the best of times, but surviving the effects of Covid-19 has made him re-assess what the audience wants. This episode was recorded in June 2020.
16. We’re Seeing Reverse Darwinism; organisations which were the strongest a year ago are now the most challenged – Paul Streets, Chief Executive, Lloyds Bank Foundation
The GCBC team are joined by Paul Streets, Chief Executive of the Lloyds Bank Foundation, to discuss how his organisation is responding to the challenges of Covid-19, and whether the crisis could lead to a new economic settlement. This episode was recorded in May 2020.
15. Charities are making tough decisions about who to furlough, who to let go, and they’re all running so fast, but this will be a marathon – Alex Skailes, Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness
Keith, Camilla and David reflect on the dramatic impact that Covid-19 is having on the charity sector. The GCBC team are joined by Alex Skailes from the Cass Centre for Charity Effectiveness to discuss cash flow, the dilemmas of furloughing, and a new vision for UK charity. This episode was recorded in May 2020.
14. We have children suffering from severe mental illness who don’t get treatment for months – Sean Duggan, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network
Keith, Camilla and David talk to Sean Duggan about how how public awareness of mental health has grown during his extensive career in the sector, and when we can expect parity of esteem between mental and physical health in the UK. Sean also talks about the role of charities in providing mental health services. This episode was recorded in January 2020.
13. What might be right for one organisation would be completely wrong for another – Alex Skailes, Director at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Cass Business School
Keith, Camilla and David talk to Alex Skailes about her experience of leading a ten-way merger of organisations in Suffolk, and why she believes that charity boards would benefit from considering a merger at regular interviews. This episode was recorded in October 2019.
12. They’ve Let this Working-Class Kid from Corby become the Chief Exec – Chris Sherwood, RSPCA
11. There’s Actually a Lot of Money Out There – Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change
Keith, Camilla and David debate the thorny issue of when it’s right for a charity to turn down funding from a big corporation. And Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change (DSC), explains the many reasons why charities should be cheerful about the future. This episode was recorded in December 2018.
10. With £600 million to distribute, it’s a very big juggernaut! Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Community Fund
Keith, Camilla and David are joined by one of the key players in the charity sector: Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of the National Lottery Community Fund (formerly the Big Lottery Fund).
9. From Lads Spinning Records to Life-Changing Radio – Phil Maguire, Chief Executive, Prison Radio Association
Keith, Camilla and David reminisce about their favourite childhood sitcoms, which leads them serendipitously onto today’s interview. In the hot seat is Phil Maguire, pioneer of National Prison Radio – a station that broadcasts to more than 100 prisons across the UK. Phil reveals how it all began and why one prison officer has likened him to a second-hand car salesman.
8. How Charities Can Survive Brexit – Caron Bradshaw, Chief Executive, Charity Finance Group
Caron Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Charity Finance Group (CFG) joins Keith, Camilla and David for a special episode about all things finance, including how charities can prepare for the outcome of Brexit. The CFG’s website is https://cfg.org.uk/
7. My Job is to be Neither Friend nor Foe to the Charity Sector – Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission
Should charities pay to be regulated? That’s one of the proposals being mooted by our special guest Helen Stephenson, CEO of the Charity Commission, who is set to announce her policy review imminently. Helen also reveals how she foresaw the concerns about safeguarding that exploded with the Oxfam scandal and defends the Commission’s response to it.
6. It’s About Thinking Outside the Box, Not Standing Outside the Tent – Kai Adams, Green Park
What qualities are needed to lead a charity? Keith, Camilla and David are joined by Kai Adams of the recruitment firm Green Park to get some answers. Kai also explains why diversity in its broadest sense is something charities should be paying more attention to.
5. I Think I Should Be the Opposite of Mean – Helen Rice, Chief Executive of Advising Communities
Keith, Camilla and David debate how the charity sector fares when it comes to gender equality. Helen Rice, CEO of Advising Communities, explains why she believes it’s never been a harder time to be poor or not to speak English in Britain. She also reveals her creative approach to making sure her charity’s resources help as many people as possible.
4. How I Set a Swarm of Mosquitoes on David Beckham. James Whiting, Malaria No More.
Keith, Camilla and David ask whether the recent Royal Wedding is going to herald a new era for Britain’s charity’s sector, and fresh from organising a ground-breaking international summit, Malaria No More’s Executive Director James Whiting talks about putting David Beckham in a glass box surrounded by mosquitos. He also gives sage advice on coping with the dark days of running a charity.
3. Maverick and passionate women. Sue Tibballs, Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
Camilla’s spent some time inside – which has opened up all sorts of questions about which charitable projects are worth funding. This week, our trio are joined by Sue Tibballs of the Sheila McKechnie Foundation, who talks about how her foundation’s namesake revolutionised campaigning. Sue also explains why things have just got tougher for charities and what needs to be done about it.
2. Profit from Poverty? Restaurateur and Social Entrepreneur Iqbal Wahhab
Keith, Camilla and David assess the Oxfam fall-out, and are joined by Iqbal Wahhab, restaurateur and author of “Charity Sucks”, to talk about his hard-nosed business approach to charity, and whether its OK to profit from poverty.
1. What Are We Doing Here? Introducing a new podcast for the charity sector
The “Coming Soon” Episode in which Keith Davis, Camilla McGibbon and David Prest discuss their new podcast series, Good Charity Bad Charity. They outline their frames of reference, and draw up a wish-list of guests for the first season: Prince Charles, Bill Gates, Bono and … Tom Jones. “We’re shaking the tin at the UK charity sector and asking some of its leading lights what motivates them, and then assessing what they do well, and what they do badly.”