The Charity Show

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 tr...

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...

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 t...

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,...

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 filmin...

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 rea...

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...

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 lea...

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...

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 Serv...

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, wit...

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...

Welcome back to The Charity Show Bites - your quick-fire roundup of uplifting stories, clever ideas and community-led initiatives from across the UK charity sector. With stormy weather rolling in and temperatures dropping, Tim and Piers explore the creative, practical and often heartwarming ways charities and local groups are helping people stay warm, connected and supported this winter. From befr...

In this episode, Tim and Piers are joined by two of the sector’s leading voices on disability inclusion: Anna Tylor , Chair of the Board of Trustees at RNIB Mark Hodgkinson , Chief Executive of Scope , the disability equality charity. Together, they discuss the evolution of inclusion - from challenging stereotypes to transforming public attitudes - and how two of the UK’s biggest charities are lea...

Welcome back to The Charity Show Bites — your quick-fire fix of surprising stories, small charity heroes, and the creativity that keeps the sector glowing. With Bonfire Night lighting up skies across the UK, Tim and Piers turn their attention to the real fireworks - the fundraisers, volunteers and communities using the season to raise thousands for good causes. From lantern-lit remembrance events...

This week, Tim and Piers are joined by Nathan Atkinson , co-founder of Rethink Food , a social enterprise on a mission to end hunger through education, sustainability and dignity. From life as a headteacher in Leeds to leading one of the UK’s Top 100 Social Enterprises, Nathan’s story is both powerful and practical — showing how small actions can spark national change. In this episode, we explore:...

Welcome to The Charity Show Bites - your quick-fire fix of surprising stories, sector insights and the occasional spooky surprise between our main episodes. This week, Tim and Piers go full Halloween , rounding up the most creative, funny and downright frightful charity fundraisers from across the UK. From eerie forest trails to glow-in-the-dark runs, haunted quizzes to record-breaking pumpkin car...

This week we’re tackling one of the trickiest topics in the sector - the legal side of running a charity. From fraud prevention and trustee payments to Charity Commission guidance and board responsibilities, we lift the lid on what it really takes to stay compliant and confident. Our guest is Kirsty McEwen , Head of the Charity & Not-for-Profit team at Higgs LLP , a trustee many times over, an...

Welcome back to The Charity Show Bites, your quick-fire dose of surprising stories, sector insights and the odd fact you can impress your colleagues with over a cuppa. This week, Tim and Piers celebrate World Animal Day , which marked its 100th anniversary on October 4th, 2025. From street fundraisers and surprise donations to pop-star scarecrows, this episode shines a light on the brilliant anima...

School holidays should mean fun, friends and freedom – but for too many families, the reality is stress, screens and tough choices. In this episode, Tim and Piers explore the idea of activity hunger with Anna Hoddinott from John Lyon’s Charity . We’ve all heard about holiday hunger and food insecurity, but activity hunger is just as real: the lack of affordable, engaging opportunities for children...

Welcome to The Charity Show Bites - your quick-fire dose of surprising stories, sector insights and the odd fact you can impress your colleagues with over a cuppa. This week we’re going a little bit international. With President Trump’s UK visit making headlines last week, Tim and Piers take a whistle-stop tour of the incredible ways UK and US charities have teamed up, swapped ideas and raised mil...

Welcome back to The Charity Show - the charity podcast that lifts the lid on life inside UK charities, with real stories, expert tips and the behind-the-scenes moments that make the sector tick. This week, Tim and Piers are joined by Stephanie Slater MBE , founder and Chief Executive of School Food Matters , the charity that has been transforming children’s experiences of food in schools for almos...

Welcome to The Charity Show Bites , the charity podcast bringing you quick-fire stories, insights and surprises from across the UK third sector. This time, we’re tackling something every parent knows too well: the back-to-school season. September means new shoes, PE kits and endless stationery lists—but for many families, it also means mounting costs and added pressure. In this Charity Show bonus...

Welcome back to The Charity Show , the charity podcast that lifts the lid on life inside UK charities. Real stories, expert tips and the behind-the-scenes moments that make the sector tick. This week, we’re joined by Evie Dickinson , Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Prison Radio Association (PRA) —the groundbreaking charity behind the world’s first national radio station for people in...

What happens to all the tents, bags and buggies we leave behind at festivals, airports and train stations—and how do charities turn them into something good? This week, Tim and Piers rummage through the weird and wonderful world of lost property. From Glastonbury tents upcycled into fashion to TfL’s forgotten baby buggies finding new homes , we explore how abandoned items aren’t always waste—they...