Episode 134: Scottish Fundraising Conference - Fay McLeod

"It starts before they walk in the door"Our final episode from Scotland, featuring Fay McLeod from Silver City Surfers. We're recapping her session 'A neurodivergent guide to smashing stereotypes and building inclusion'. James and Fay talk about her lived experience and honest reflections. We've got myth-busting, accommodating reasonable adjustments and anxiety in the build-up to Glasgow. There's coffee dates, fonts for dyslexics and meeting cancellations, plus winning awards and, saving the best for last, lego speed dating.  ---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"Work is meant to be fun!"We're live from the Scottish Fundraising Conference 2025. James and Kenneth sit down to recount their experience from Glasgow with behind the scenes content from keynote speakers, sponsors, presenters, organisers, award winners and Kenneth's former colleagues - we’ve even got the former secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain for you coming up. A great couple of days at what is officially the friendliest conference around. We possibly spark a condiment debate (though consensus was clear from your presenters), plus you can hear updates on the health of Kenneth's dog and James' plans for motorway service stops in Belgium.---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"Something which really drives me is making things better."Former fundraiser and current coach, Eleanor Gibson joins us to talk about helping charities make a bigger impact. Starting out without replying to emails at Cancer Research before embracing Lean and Agile ways of working. She went on to found Tilt, supporting over 400 organisations, and start the Charity Change Collective, speeding up positive change in the sector. She took some time out from revolutionising our ways of working to discuss Kenneth singing along to all the words, our dream artists and Irish shopping trips. We get into ruthless prioritisation, innovation processes, pet projects and being focused on outcomes. Eleanor proposes we fundamentally shift how we evaluate whether we are doing a good job.---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"You just can't replace in-person experiences"We give the people what they want with an update on the dog. Then with formalities out of the way, Kenneth and James meet your second Keynote Speaker for the Scottish Fundraising Conference as we look forward to Glasgow. We'll soon be roaming the luxurious halls of our favourite event of the year, bringing you our highlights, but for now enjoy an episode packed with the energy you might expect from someone kicking off day two, the one and only Esther Kwaku. A career which began with a temp job at CRUK, peppered with considered quitting, story-telling and trips to South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. We talk about getting to the real story, breaking the template, re-invention, rapping, dream gigs and psychological safety. There’s human-centred AI, laying awake at night with excitement, removing the blockers to progress and the importance of experience over qualifications. Finally we look ahead to Scotland, getting people together in a room and a spoiler for what to expect from the stage.---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"The prodigal daughter has returned!"Enthused by the latest global podcast rankings, a giddy Kenneth and James are joined by the Keynote Speakers for the Scottish Fundraising Conference as teaser episodes for the two days in Glasgow. We'll soon be roaming the luxurious halls of our favourite event of the year, bringing you our highlights, but for now enjoy an international best-selling author; an Honorary Doctor of Education; one of the few women to be awarded an MBE for services to entrepreneurship and business; and the local lass playing her hometown gig - Dr Alison Edgar MBE. We talk about confidence, resilience, a tough education and a warm, loving home. There's overcoming the challenge of writing your first book and quietening Kenneth's voice in your head, investing time with those starting up, how to apply entrepreneurship to your role and the common trait which makes for successful employees. We get into Metathesiophobia and other easier words to spell. There's the absolute highlight moment of the year occuring behind Kenneth, basketballs, ping pong balls and a boring bloke in a boat.  ---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"Oh no, we've got the Chief Executive with us."We’re talking to Juliet Bouverie, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association. Juliet has led and influenced strategic work at organisations like Macmillan Cancer Support, the Stroke Association and the NHS. She co-chairs the Stroke Delivery Programme Board with NHS England, sits on the NHS Assembly, and was awarded an OBE in 2020. Juliet brings a wealth of experience in policy, service delivery, and organisational leadership, and even ran the London Marathon to support her cause.James is back from breaking bones, jumping into the conversation which covers the impact of influencing policy, the potential for AI in awareness and funding, embracing an agile way of working and the meditative power of fishing. Kenneth is holding it together on the last day of school and distracting himself by chatting about the public perception of the word charity, the importance of personal story-telling and leadership style through crisis.---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"Play isn't about sport or competition. It's about joy, connections and creating space where everyone feels they belong."We’re joined by Rick Jenner, a man on a mission to get more people moving, playing, and connecting. Rick is the CEO of ParkPlay — a young and ambitious charity bringing free, fun, and active play to parks across the UK. Since launching in 2020, ParkPlay has grown to nearly 100 community events and welcomed over 11,000 children and families to meet, move and play.Kenneth flies solo (again!) for this one, as slacker James is taking a mysterious annual leave. With a shared passion for park-based weekend activities, Kenneth and Rick talk about finding meaning in your work and the overlooked value of play in society. They get into the reduction in school play time, the financial barriers to sports and the organisation’s vision to change that through fostering community wellbeing. There’s the importance of volunteers in scaling a model. Plus the funding challenges and volatility facing us all, and the value of loyal long-term partnerships in countering them. Kenneth dives into the detail of Rick’s career from telecoms and media magnate, though sport organisation and to Park Play where he leads a team in the surprisingly collaborative world of charity.  ---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

In this Spotlight episode we speak to Matt Gofton to hear more about his recent experience of using football as a vehicle for community impact and how a kick about with a few friends can lead into starting their own Community Interest Company .Matt truly lives and breathes the beautiful game — not just for the love of football itself, but for the power it holds to bring people together. What started as a casual post-lockdown kickabout has grown into Exeter & Collumpton Football Club, or ECFC — a grassroots football movement that’s as much about community as it is about the sport. From inclusive sessions and youth development to mental health support and walking football, ECFC is a place where everyone is welcome — boots, baggage, and all. Now a registered Community Interest Company, ECFC is redefining what a local football club can be. And at the heart of it is Matt’s vision: to create a legacy of connection, wellbeing, and real community impact. So, whether you're a football fanatic or someone curious about the power of local action, this is a story that shows whats possible with a bit of hard work and the support of your friends and family. ---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

'Why don't you just shut it down?"Emma Cantrell MBE is a visionary leader, consultant, and social entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in the charity sector. She’s the founder of First Days Children’s Charity, where she built a thriving organisation from the ground up, ensuring financial stability, growing a dedicated team, and supporting families in need. As its CEO, and now Chair of Trustees, she has been instrumental in shaping its strategy and vision. Kenneth meanwhile, recounts his experience as the organiser of a recent stag do, we join James for the New Financial Year celebrations and we review punting in Cambridge. Things get a little heavier as we discuss how childrens’ needs are not being met and peek behind the curtain of middle-class fly-tipping. We’ve got the differences between small and large charities as well as small businesses and charities. We’ve got social media pressures, the importance of trustees, where the money in the system is heading, plus the hope and enjoyment behind all the above. This episode comes packed with references to a recent report ‘Breaking Point: The Mental Health Crisis in Small Organisation Leadership’ conducted by Fair Collective in partnership with NCVO and with funding from The Talent Fund which can be found on our Do More Good website.---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod

"The most important person in the organisation is the Database Manager"James is getting excited about a new financial year and Kenneth has spent four days in the big smoke, avoiding the jabs from his kids. We revist our GCSEs and the question of whether face to face fundraisers make the best fundraisers. There's getting a reality check early, meeting your heroes, selling a cookie, an outcome and a cause. Our guest describes the subtle difference between a digital approach to fundraising rather than a fundraising approach to digital, where inspiration for a company name comes from and making a million in the first month. Then we round up with a sensible approach to a side hustle bearing in mind three kids, a mortgage and thirteen needy chickens. It's Rob Green, the founder of Bridgit. ---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod---You can support the show through Patreon and find us on www.domoregood.uk or follow us on Instagram. Get in touch if you'd like to feature or star on the show. It goes without saying really but the episodes contains our opinions - essentially things we overheard in meetings, stole from presentations and read in magazines. Thanks for listening.patreon.com/domoregoodpodinstagram.com/domoregoodpod