Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast: What Is Your Why? – Charity Sector Stories

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode, Vicki Beavers, founder and CEO of The Sleep Charity, shares her personal journey with sleep deprivation, the importance of sleep for wellbeing, and how her charity is transforming sleep support across the UK. Discover practical insights, the science behind sleep, and how targeted interventions can change lives. Vicki shares her i...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode, Michelle Benson shares her journey from fundraising to founding Culture of Philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the external environment, creating a digital pipeline, and leveraging data for effective fundraising. Discover practical strategies to make fundraising enjoyable, authentic, and successful. In this in...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this heartfelt interview, Steve Phillip shares his personal journey through grief after losing his son to suicide, and how it ignited his mission to create the Jordan Legacy. Discover insights on suicide prevention, the importance of collaboration, and how hope and purpose can drive societal change. Keywords suicide prevention, mental health,...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast Summary In this episode, Ian Nutt, Director of Fundraising and Engagement at Heart of England Forest, shares his journey through the worlds of nature, arts, and charity. He discusses the importance of long-term vision in environmental work, the power of community engagement, and the personal benefits of connecting with nature and creativity. reso...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this heartfelt interview, Madison Wood-Gonzalez, Executive Director of Morning Light, shares her journey into end-of-life care for the homeless and those with limited means. Discover the organization's innovative social hospice model, the importance of storytelling, and lessons on compassion, resilience, and leadership in social impact work. I...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast summary In this episode, Dean Jones interviews Ashley Samuels-McKenzie about the transformative power of music and media in youth development, social impact, and creative pathways. They explore Ashley’s journey, the impact of creative education, and how storytelling can unlock potential for young people facing adversity. Chapters 00:00 Introducti...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast Summary In this inspiring interview, Melanie Beck shares her journey from elite sports to community leadership, emphasizing the importance of growth, resilience, and inclusion. Discover how her experiences in sports, city development, and charity work converge to create meaningful social impact, especially in learning disability services. In this...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode of the Night Owl Philanthropy podcast, host Dean Jones speaks with Bianca Robinson, CEO of CEO Sleep Out, about her journey into philanthropy and the pressing issue of homelessness. Bianca shares her personal connection to the cause, the operations of CEO Sleep Out, and the challenges faced by small businesses in contributing to s...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode of the Night Owl Philanthropy podcast, host Dean Jones speaks with Jordan Letts, CEO of Northampton Saints Foundation. They explore the foundation's mission to use the power of sport, particularly rugby, to inspire and support individuals in the community. - Jordan shares his personal journey, his positive experiences in leading t...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast Summary In this conversation, Vanessa Holmes, Associate Director at Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, discusses the challenges and rewards of hospital fundraising. She emphasizes the importance of unrestricted funding, building relationships with donors, and the impact of storytelling in fundraising efforts. The discussion also covers the significa...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode of Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast – What’s Your Why? , Dean Jones speaks with Simon Green , Chief Executive of YMCA South Midlands , about the raw personal experiences – a close friend's time in hostel accommodation over 20 years ago, and the devastating loss of someone dear who lived there and died from addiction – that drove him...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast In this episode of the Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast – What’s Your Why?, I’m joined by Lorraine Lewis, Co‑Founder and CEO of The Lewis Foundation. Lorraine shares the story of how a deeply personal family experience led to the creation of a charity that now provides free gift packs to adult cancer patients across multiple hospitals. She talks ab...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast: Jon Manning on building Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation Dean Jones speaks with Jon Manning, founder/CEO of Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation, about turning lived experience of trauma and mental illness into accessible one‑to‑one support – no waiting lists, no thresholds.​ From childhood abuse, four‑year N...

Episode 0: What Is Your Why? – Introducing the Podcast In this opening episode, host Dean Jones introduces the Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast and explains the vision behind the series.​ This is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the real stories, motivations and resilience of charity leaders, fundraisers, philanthropists and changemakers across the social impact sector. Each episode will ask one ce...

Charity Stories from Night Owl Philanthropy Podcast Summary In this episode of the Night Owl Philanthropy podcast, Dean Jones speaks with Vicky Smith, the Executive Director of Income Generation at Acorns Children's Hospice. Vicky shares her personal journey into the charitable sector, driven by a desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. She discusses the unique challenges faced by chil...