Leading in uncertainty
Online peer support sessions for charities.
Online peer support sessions for charities.
We run 90 minute peer support sessions for up to 12 charity leaders at a time, via Zoom.
Attendees experience a safe space to share challenges – like increasing or changing demand, taking care of your team (and yourself!), blending online and face-to-face, and managing multiple balancing acts. In some instances, we may work with partners to support their networks.
There are also pathways to influence the practice of over 100 funders who have signed up to our community of open and trusting grant-making.
Leaders of charities, community organisations and social enterprises, based in the UK.
This Leading in Uncertainty initiative builds on the emergency support sessions which we have been providing since April 2020. Over 500 people have taken part so far; their organisations are active in 17 fields including the arts, criminal justice, education, equality, infrastructure and migration. For a feel of what the sessions are like, read this short blog from Patricia Kieran, Director of the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies or explore our ‘How is this useful’ section of this webpage.
The precise focus of conversations is generated by the participants or partner organisations we work with – you shape what this needs to be, to ensure that the sessions are useful for you.
‘It was really powerful to be part of one of these sessions … incredible to hear about the wide range of experiences and challenges faced by colleagues and to identify together commonality within that diversity.’
The sessions are co-facilitated by IVAR staff and associates, all of whom have been supporting charity leaders across the UK since April 2020.
We are currently working on the next round of Leading in Uncertainty sessions and will publicise them when they are available to book. Please get in touch if you would like to hear when new dates are announced.
The online support sessions are facilitated peer support spaces; they are not information or advice surgeries.
Through these sessions, we’re building our understanding of the live situation in the sector – and calling for funders to respond. So, as well as a safe space to share what’s on your mind, this is also an opportunity to influence funder practice. You can see examples of this in our briefing series and our call for open and trusting grant-making, which has been shaped by what we’ve heard from charity leaders.
Rest assured that we won’t share anything without your consent.
We do periodically produce anonymised briefings to:
The benefit of the IVAR sessions has been listening to how others have coped during this time, and I hope that leaders will give themselves the opportunity to reflect on what they have learned and what works for them.
It’s good for mental wellbeing and to have the opportunity to talk and share with others in similar situations.
Meeting others from different areas provides the opportunity to be frank about challenges faced and therefore allows for open discussion, which can identify strong solutions.
It is important to take time out. To know that people around the country are dealing with the same things and feel that we have each other’s back. I am glad I didn’t make an excuse.
I found this space highly valuable to hear and empathise with other charity leaders grappling with similar challenges. I also enjoyed hearing about their unique context and specific challenges; it is great to get out of your head and hear what is important for others. I learnt a lot about how other leaders approach their work and its pressure from these conversations. It prompted me to reflect on my own priorities and approaches.
Senior Researcher
Research Associate
Senior Researcher
Researcher
Research Associate
Deputy Head of Research
Head of Research
Senior Researcher
Principal Researcher
With thanks to CaVCA for the photo used on this page.
