Charity Champions Podcast

In this episode of Charity Champions, host Emily Formby is joined by Helen Barnard, Director of Policy and Research at Trussell, to discuss her journey through research, policy and operational leadership. Helen shares lessons from evaluating government policy, shaping strategy at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and building effective teams under pressure. She also reflects on collaboration, decisio...

Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive of the Directory of Social Change (DSC), joins Emily Formby to share her candid journey through the charity sector. From unexpected career twists to leading one of the UK’s most influential organisations, Debra reflects on leadership, culture, and the realities of change. Packed with honesty and insight, this conversation is essential listening for charity lead...

Lived experience can be the most powerful foundation for leadership in the charity sector. In our season 2 finale, Michelle Baharier, artist, disability rights advocate and charity founder, shares her journey from the squats of 1980s Brixton to building and running a mental health charity for 25 years, growing it to 24 staff supporting around 3,000 people a year. Her insights highlight the realiti...

Leadership in the charity sector demands resilience, vision, and a commitment to social justice. Dr June O’Sullivan OBE, Chief Executive of the London Early Years Foundation, shares her journey from psychiatric nursing and social work to building one of the UK’s leading childcare social enterprises. Her insights highlight the power of purpose-driven leadership, the importance of community, and why...

In this Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby talks with Kate Darby, founder and CEO of Dementia Disco. Kate shares how a deeply personal journey inspired her to create a joyful grassroots movement that brings music, connection, and community to people living with dementia. They explore how grief was transformed into purpose, the challenges of scaling a volunteer‑led idea into a registered chari...

In this Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby talks with Verity Glasgow, CEO of OnePlusOne. Verity shares her journey from frontline service delivery to leading the organisation, reflecting on how lived experience and commitment to mission shaped her path. They discuss the shift from research roots to a digital model, the challenges of sustaining innovative projects in a tough funding climate, a...

In this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby speaks with Monwara Ali, a leader whose journey from childhood carer to nationally recognised changemaker embodies resilience, courage, and purposeful leadership.   Monwara shares her remarkable path from growing up in Camden amid racial tensions and family challenges, to studying law and undertaking a harrowing internship with prisone...

In this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby speaks with Will Snell, Chief Executive of the Fairness Foundation, about what it means to lead organisations that influence systems rather than deliver services. Will shares his journey from international development to founding and running NGOs focused on social justice, and reflects on the challenges of measuring impact in advocacy...

In this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby speaks with Bayo Adelaja, founder and CEO of Do it Now Now, about the journey that has reshaped how funding, equality and leadership are understood in the charity sector. Bayo shares how a simple New Year’s resolution sparked the creation of Do it Now Now and how the organisation has since distributed more than £3 million to Black-led...

In this episode of the Charity Champions Podcast, Emily Formby speaks with Nicky Wake, founder of The Widowed Collective, about the experiences that reshaped her life and work. Nicky talks candidly about losing her husband Andy, the long years of uncertainty that followed, and the reality of parenting, running a business and surviving grief at the same time. She shares how those years led her away...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast. In this episode, our Divisional Director, Emily Formby, sits down with Karen Horner, CEO of Tomorrow’s Women, for a heartfelt and honest conversation about stepping into leadership during a period of major organisational change. Karen reflects on her reluctant transition from operations to CEO, the self-doubt that followed, and how two decades inside the c...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast. In this episode, our Divisional Director, Emily Formby, speaks with Martin Drewry, CEO of Health Poverty Action, about what it really takes to lead a global organisation without a traditional head office. Martin reflects on the shift to a decentralised model, how moving away from London reshaped their culture and costs, and why grounding leadership in the...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast! Our Divisional Director, Emily Formby, sits down with Katherine Vesey, the founder of Hearts4Refugees, to talk about how compassion, community, and courage come together to create real change for people seeking safety and belonging. Katherine shares her journey from local volunteer to community leader, reflecting on the challenges of building Heart4refugee...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast! Our Divisional Director, Emily Formby, chats with Kieran, the founder of 'Sports Fun 4 All', about how football and community can come together to inspire confidence, belonging, and change in young people’s lives. Kieran talks about his journey from local coach to founder, the early struggles of starting out, and how 'Sports Fun 4 All' grew from one small...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast! Our Divisional Director Emily Formby sits down with Melissa, the founder of Sew Positive, to talk about how sewing, creativity, and community can bring people together and spark personal change. Melissa shares how her volunteers are supported through training and supervision and the role of creativity in improving mental wellbeing. She also opens up about...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast! In this episode, our Divisional Director, Emily Formby sits down with Martin Farrell – Founder and Director of ‘Get2thepoint’, crisis coach, and author of Good Leaders in Turbulent Times.  Martin shares the powerful story of how his own difficult experience in the late 1990s became the fuel for his life’s work supporting CEOs in crisis, from navigating wor...

Welcome to the Charity Champions Podcast! In this episode, our Divisional Director, Emily Formby chats with Dr Clare Roberts-Molloy, Founder and CEO of Periods Matter, and a remarkable coach, board chair, and advocate for women over 40. Clare opens up about a pivotal moment in her life when everything changed - leaving a long-term toxic relationship, facing burnout and finding the courage to compl...

Welcome to our brand new Charity Champions Podcast! In this first episode, our Divisional Director, Emily Formby sits down with Chad Maskell, CEO of Veteran Housing Group CiC, to discuss the vital work being done to support veterans in finding safe, stable housing. Chad shares his insights into the challenges faced by ex-service personnel and how his organisation is making a real difference in the...