23.06.17
King’s Fund launches programme to grow third sector leadership skills
The application process for a support programme to enable charity leaders to help one another through sharing expertise and developing skills has been launched.
Spearheaded by the King’s Fund, working alongside Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund, the programme, called Cascading Leadership, will now take its next steps since being successfully piloted last year.
It aims to improve access to support and develop opportunities for charity and voluntary sector leaders. Initially, there are 80 places open on the programme, which is free to attend.
Charities applying for places – which are estimated to be worth £3,000 each – must demonstrate how their work improves health and wellbeing for people.
The King’s Fund take the approach where charity leaders provide support to less experienced peers, meaning that information comes from those who understand and are familiar with the sector’s challenges and potential.
Leadership experts at the King’s Fund also provide training and guidance to develop and grow the skills and capabilities of those receiving and providing support.
“Charities make a huge contribution to improving the health of society, but the sector faces tough challenges,” said Lisa Weaks, head of third sector at The King’s Fund. “Funding squeezes and rising demand for services mean that charities are under intense pressure and so effective leadership skills are needed more than ever.
“We’re excited that Cascading Leadership has the backing of Comic Relief and the Big Lottery Fund – more charity leaders can now take part, learn from each other, and strengthen their organisations’ crucial work supporting communities across the UK.”
And Gilly Green, head of UK Grants at Comic Relief, said that with increasing demands on services, challenges in the funding landscape and more complex relationships to nurture and negotiate, it can be a lonely as well as exciting place being a charity leader.
“Cascading Leadership takes as its starting point the principle of sharing knowledge and building the sector’s capacity from within,” she noted. “Building on the learning from the pilot, we are delighted to be working again with The King’s Fund, and welcome being joined by the Big Lottery Fund to support this innovative and exciting programme.”
Finally, Gemma Bull, England director at the Big Lottery Fund, stated that collaborating with The King’s Fund and Comic Relief will ensure “we can maximise the reach of National Lottery funding and continue to support charities of all different sizes and locations”.
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