‘Batten down the hatches’

‘Leading in Uncertainty’ is a series of briefings for trusts and foundations, to help them better understand the challenges and realities facing charity leaders.

In this briefing ‘Batten down the hatches’ we hear from charity leaders about how they continue to grapple with the pressures of prolonged instability and rising need during an exceptionally difficult time in the charity sector.

These briefings present key themes from facilitated conversations between senior leaders of UK charities. Sessions are held under the Chatham House Rule, enabling participants to speak openly and candidly about their experiences. The resulting briefings offer valuable insights for funders into the real-world, day-to-day challenges of running voluntary sector organisations, and offer perspectives on what funders can do – or stop doing – to support them more effectively.

We set up ‘Leading in Uncertainty’ at the beginning of the Covid pandemic in April 2020. At that time of acute crisis, we sought to provide a ‘safe space’ to pause and reflect for leaders of organisations supporting some of society’s most vulnerable people. In the years since, more than 680 charity leaders have taken part from across the UK, sharing their experiences and providing mutual support through the pandemic and its aftershocks.

This briefing draws on sessions with 22 charity leaders during late June and July 2024, ahead of the General Election and change in government. This is what they told us.