Cameron Kinsella

A charity is an organisation that is set up to help people in need and is for a specific cause. Charities belong to the third sector, which is not about making a profit but rather about making a difference in society.

Did you know there are approximately [1]169 thousand registered charities in England and Wales as of 2022…!? Between 2000 and 2007 the number of charities increased by 10 thousand, before the 2008 global recession reduced the number of charities by the same number in just two years. Since 2011 however, the number of charities in England and Wales recovered to levels seen just prior to the financial crash. 

Unsurprisingly, nearly all charities were impacted by the pandemic – according to the Charity Commission over [2]90% experienced some negative impact from COVID-19, whether on their service delivery, finances, staff, or indeed on staff morale, resulting from the months of frustration and uncertainty. The majority (60%) saw a loss of income, and a third (32%) said they experienced a shortage of volunteers. Given these findings, it is perhaps surprising that we haven’t seen a significant number of charities fold since March 2021 in a similar trend to the crash in 2008. Overall, the number of charities closing did not vary significantly compared to the previous year which shows a fantastic progression for the sector in being more resilient.

[3]“Nearly all of us turn to a charity at some point in our lives.  An overwhelming [4]majority (98%) of UK households have used a charity’s service, with more than half (51%) turning to a charity for advice, according to research carried out by Populus and the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF).  I can personally vouch for the benefit of charity support in my younger years, whether through services such as Marie Curie who nursed my mother and in fact, our whole family to some extent; but also smaller organisations like community centres who gave me a home from home when things in my real home felt challenging. Even if we don’t realise it, charities underpin our way of life. “[5]They provide the foundation for our cultural, religious and educational establishments large and small. They shoulder the burden of medical research, health services and support for the vulnerable in society; the disadvantaged, the young and the old.”  Above all, charities embody a simple idea; that people come together to make the world a better place. At a time of international turmoil and economic uncertainty, that is something incredibly important and powerful.

We have never (ever) needed charities more.  

[6]Did you know, charities are a major part of the economy. Charities in the UK spend over £40bn a year and employ 827,000 people. Charities contribute over £12bn a year to the UK economy, which is the same as  the agricultural sector.  Charities offer routes for people to volunteer,  increase their social circles, wellbeing and also skills/ experience – which can in turn give you greater access to opportunities.  They enable people to fulfil the need many of us have (me included), in wanting to make a positive difference on the world.  The main purpose of them, being for public benefit and usually tackling an issue or offering some sort of wonderful and very much needed support.

One such issue which around [7]11,400 UK charities work across, is poverty.  According to the Big Issue, the UK has long had a poverty problem, with a decade of public service cuts pushing families across the country further into hardship.  The Covid-19 crisis made life even harder for many after thousands were made redundant, lost income on the furlough scheme and faced higher living costs in lockdown. Now, with soaring energy prices, tax hikes and a cost of living crisis, people will struggle to make ends meet. 

It means many will struggle to afford the food they need and be forced to rely on food banks. Some will find it difficult to pay for household bills, transport or internet connections.

The problem is not exclusive to unemployed people. [8]In-work poverty hit a record high just before the pandemic, and a 2021 analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research IPPR think tank found that London has an in-work poverty rate of 22 per cent – the highest in the country. The chances for households with two full-time workers of being pulled into poverty have more than doubled from 1.4 per cent to 3.9 per cent over the last two decades. 

Some drivers of poverty are life events, like illness or redundancy which many of us includding myself, have felt. Some are structural, and exacerbated by increasing living costs, creating a cycle that keeps people trapped in hardship; such as unemployment and low-paid, insecure work. People who have not had easy access to training or education can struggle to land a secure job, making it harder to escape poverty.

Even benefits can be difficult to access; each year Aster’s financial wellbeing team support around 2000 people per year to have a healthier relationship with money and last year managed to attain approximately £412,000 in benefit applications and appeals for those we work with. It’s particularly difficult for people dealing with mental health issues like addiction to escape poverty; and whether poverty is the reason for ill mental health or something which was there to start with – is the topic for another blog…

The question I asked at the start of this blog/ conversation, is “do we need another one?” Well, let’s see… if there are approximately 11,400 UK charities working on poverty, the majority of these smaller (c.75%), some with a focus on children or working in other countries also with high levels of need; that may leave around [9]2800 charities working on an issue which impacted up to 14.5 million people before the pandemic. With the UK population currently at nearly 67 million, that’s one in every four or five people. 

“Do we need another one?”  Yes, we do…  Well, it definitely can’t hurt. 

As a charity, the Aster Foundation exists to enable the better lives of those who live in and around our communities.  We do this through our impact programmes which cover areas such as mental wellness and resilience, financial wellbeing, employment, ageing well (55+), homelessness and volunteering; and are working to enable the better lives of at least 40,000 by 2030.

Our work has a focus on real empowerment.  Along side our impact programmes we deliver a social incubator (inc.) which focuses on amplifying the impact of social entrepreneurs who want to tackle the social challenges which contribute to poverty, in a different way.  So far, we have worked with 20 social businesses tackling anything from reducing mental health service waiting times through technology (Co-Opts), enabling people to find the right help fast through vetted support (My Pickle); to a raw brick created with landfill waste (Raw Brick)…any many more.  Although we work with any talent, we are currently developing an academy which will develop the entrepreneurial capabilities of those living in social housing, starting with those who live within a home through Aster Group.  I firmly believe that there is no one better to tackle the social issues which exist, than those who live them every day.  We want to give them an opportunity to flourish in this space.  I was given that opportunity and I will be forever grateful.

Our work is underpinned by research.  A large part of what we do is to give people a voice across the social issues which matter to them.  We have two pieces of research which are in progress, one with a focus on social entrepreneurialism which will tell us if there are any barriers for social housing customers in becoming a social entrepreneur – and importantly if so, what we can do to remove these barriers.  The second in partnership with Newcastle University, focuses on financial exclusion in the digital age.  All important in helping us and others to develop through listening to the voices of those we wish to engage with…

“Do we need another one?” Yes.  I am incredibly proud to share the Aster Foundation with you.  It is after all, for all of us, with multiple ways to engage, make a difference and to be involved.  I wanted to thank all of the partners who support us, our beneficiaries who trust and improve our work every day. Importantly a thank you to Aster Group who have committed to us delivering a long-term plan of support to our communities – which I very much believe has never been more needed. 

This is only the start of our journey.

Cam

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[1] Charities in the UK – Statistics & Facts | Statista

[2] What new research tells us about the impact of COVID-19 on charities – Charity Commission (blog.gov.uk)

[3] caf-uk-giving-2019-report-an-overview-of-charitable-giving-in-the-uk.pdf

[4] Almost all UK households use a charity service, research finds | Voluntary Sector Network | The Guardian

[5] Sir John Low Chief Executive, Charities Aid Foundation

[6] How many charities are there? – How charities work

[7] Poverty Charities Directory Including Charities for the Homeless | Charity Choice

[8] UK poverty: the facts, figures and effects (bigissue.com)

[9] THE VALUE OF THE CHARITY SECTOR (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Like anyone, after recent events I have been reflecting on how and where I can have the greatest impact. I’ve thought about the things that matter and how to amplify my mission; but before I talk about that, I thought it would be useful to start with some context about why making an impact is so important to me…

Firstly, I understand about legacy. My mother passed away when I was sixteen and her belief in people and view of the world and the difference she wanted to make, live on through me. I heard a speaker called ‘Tommy Gentleman’ once say that we die twice in our lifetime, the first when our bodies give up, the second is when someone says your name for the last time. My way of keeping her legacy alive is through the work I do, because of what I learned from her and the impact she/ we wanted to make.

The second reason is that due to my mother passing away at a young age, I then learned to understand all too quickly about ill mental health, being hungry, financial exclusion and loneliness. All of these challenges are my strengths, not my weaknesses. Because of these things I am better at my work, better with people and I don’t take anything for granted. I look for solutions to problems and know that even on the darkest days or the worst of circumstance – you can find a way out through belief and creativity.

People supported me, empowered me and gave me a platform. I use all of the knowledge and skills I gained and funnel them into making a difference; to make change. The platform I use now – the Aster Foundation.

The Aster Foundation created inc. to provide a platform for those who want to make a real difference, through building businesses to change the world.

It’s a fact that social enterprises are businesses that are changing the world for the better. They are providing creative solutions to society’s biggest challenges and are relied upon to reach communities that others often can’t; with *31% of them working in the top 20% of the most deprived communities in the UK .

Social enterprises are changing the face of how we do business throughout the world, providing a new and empowering alternative of ‘profit for purpose.’ Like any business, they aim to make a profit but it’s what they do with their profits that makes them stand out – reinvesting to further their work or donating to create positive social change.

“Thought leaders around the world, recognise the extraordinary value that entrepreneurship adds to job creation, economic growth and the commercialisation of innovation.” They have made a mark in nearly every sector with examples including The Big Issue, Switchee, Social Supermarket and Invisible Creations.

Many people don’t realise that there are over 100,000 social enterprises throughout our country contributing £60 billion to the economy and employing two million people; with evidence showing that social enterprises often perform better economically than traditional firms. Social businesses demonstrate that profit and purpose are inextricably linked, with *data showing that almost three quarters (73%) expect to see their revenues climb in the next 12 months, compared to 69% at the start of the year.

I paint a beautiful picture of social enterprise, one of innovation and purpose. I won’t however shy away from the challenges that social enterprises face:

• Needing to understand the mechanics of running a successful social business
• Lack of access to innovative networks who will give you access to opportunities
• Access to grants and funding
• Lack of peer to peer support from people going through similar journey’s
• Lack of free coaching or personal/ team development opportunities
• Little or no investment in mental wellness and resilience
• Little support with amplifying impact
• Space to innovate within across (for some regions)

This is what inc. will be supporting through its ten-month programme. We will give our emerging entrepreneurs and their teams, access to a unique learning programme which will give them everything they need to develop a successful social business, now and for the future. We will match them with one of our inspiring alumni, who are a group of successful social entrepreneurs within their own right. The alumni will help our cohort to translate the learning they gain into action. We will enable the cohort to engage our rich and diverse customer base, which they can involve in market research for their product/ business or to shape and influence how they operate. We will also get the social entrepreneurs ready to pitch to investors at the end of the programme, this to enable them to amplify their impact further.

Our programmes uniqueness comes from the investment we are making into our social entrepreneurs wellbeing and growth. Worryingly, a survey conducted by the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards found that 58% of those surveyed experienced mental health issues. The conditions included anxiety (21%), depression (19%) and stress (41%). Interestingly, 55% of respondents said that running a business has had a negative impact on their mental health.

“Social entrepreneurs inspire us with their humanity and their commitment to those they represent and serve.” The path of social entrepreneurship can be a lonely one. With a focus on the needs and traumas of others, wellbeing is often neglected. Inc has a focus on wellness, resilience, personal growth and also psychometric profiling. We want to give our entrepreneurs the tools they need to create space for themselves to think freely and imaginatively. We want to embed our principles around inclusivity and sustainability through the businesses we support, this whilst creating businesses which yes, change the world in some way…yes, have an economic impact…but also giving a much needed focus on the people doing the hard work.

We have only three conditions for involvement:

• You must be delivering a social business which aligns to our priority areas (list below)
• You must be in years 1-3 of your social business
• You must be able to show how you propose to make the impact of your business felt across one or more of our communities

I recognise that not everyone has had the incredible support that I have through my own personal challenges. This means you may not feel ready to apply to inc. this year. Through the year we will be delivering pre-incubation classes, digitally to start with. The hope is that we give you a space to be creative and to define and develop your ideas. We hope many across our communities will see this as a platform to make a difference in some way.

Don’t keep shouting at the TV with your ideas. Don’t keep telling everyone that you know how to fix something better than the government or other organisations. Don’t watch Dragons Den and tell those around you that you had that idea ten years ago. Don’t just read this article and feel inspired, act inspired and get involved. Use this as your call to action and get in touch.

inc. is for those who dare to innovate and care enough to make it happen.

Will you?
Are you inc?

We are looking for social entrepreneurs, investment/ funding partners and delivery partners.

 

References:

• State of social enterprise survey – carried out by Social Enterprise UK (SEUK)
• https://www.commercialreporter.co.uk/commercial-news/smes-seeking-250000-more-funding-than-at-the-start-of-2019.html
• https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/06/this-is-how-wellbeing-drives-social-change-and-why-cultural-leaders-need-to-talk-about-it/
• https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/What-is-it-all-about/
• Paul HokemeyerClinical and Consulting Psychotherapist: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/how-to-tackle-the-mental-health-crisis-in-entrepreneurship/ 

 Other Sources:

• https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/social-enterprises-contribute-60bn-economy-year/social-enterprise/article/1493336
• https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/press-releases/government-must-harness-the-power-of-social-enterprise-to-make-uk-competitive-and-inclusive-finds-new-research/

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Whether it’s empowering women, helping the environment, or trying to end poverty, more and more companies are incorporating social responsibility into their overall business strategy… but what is it?

Well… CSR is when a company takes steps to ensure there are positive social and environmental effects associated with the way they do business; usually incorporating how they will address social issues alongside delivering business as usual. Not only can CSR models increase business and revenue, they promote change and progress throughout the world, which often involves helping people with few or no resources…great!

When properly implemented, CSR should become ingrained in the values and culture of a company. CSR should become inherent in the mission and message of an organisation, and also hold a strong place in the marketing and advertising.   It may sound like a lot of hard work on top of the day job, but can you really afford not to invest your time into making the world a better place? Businesses that ignore CSR run a risk to their bottom line and their brand. Nowadays consumers want to spend their money on products and services that they believe in. They want ethical practices and to feel as though they are making a difference whilst shopping or at work. Win, win.

Take millennials, for example…. they account for roughly a quarter of the world’s population and the ‘World Data Lab’ forecasts that their global spending power will soon be greater than any generation. As the principal, consumer generation they are set to shape the direction of the world’s economy in the years ahead; with 88% of them thinking companies should try to achieve their business goals while improving society and 1 in 2 being belief driven buyers, meaning they buy or boycott a brand based on their stance on societal issues. Millennials are particularly tech savvy, and they don’t think twice about researching a company and looking into its ethical record, CSR approach and employment practices. Many feel like it is their duty to do their part in making the world a better place, and this burgeoning generation does not want to be associated with or support companies who do not take responsibility for the world and the people in it.

And guess what…employee engagement is also proven to be tied to a company’s CSR reputation. A recent Deliotte survey found that 70 percent of millennials acknowledged that a company’s commitment to social responsibility influenced their choice to work there. With millennials soon to be the largest generational segment of the workforce, companies looking to hire these workers will need to embrace CSR in order to attract and retain talent. Millennials don’t just want to consume products and services; they want to take part in making these social and environmental changes also.

It’s not just millennials that want to do more with their spending and work life, but you can see the point I am making. CSR should no longer be seen as a ‘nice thing to do’ it makes absolute and complete business sense. It helps to attract the best talent and also helps to build your profits…. and yes, I am using words like ‘profit’ and ‘good cause’ in the same sentence because the more profit you make, the more resources you have access to, to make a real and lasting change. Again…its win, win.

Now hopefully at this point I have convinced you that CSR is a necessity for businesses to stay relevant to consumers in the world today.

The next stage for you is understanding what CSR is in the context of YOUR business. It means different things to different people or sectors and for it to work, it needs to mean something to you. It’s then time to create a strategy to keep you on track to achieve your goals; Making sure you don’t forget to explore the right way of measuring the impact of the work you deliver. Trust me, you will want to know the difference you are making to your business and the causes you have aligned yourself to. This my friends is what we at the Aster Foundation can help you with. We would love to speak to you or your teams and help you to start your CSR revolution, just send me a message and we will share resources, knowledge and support. It really is that simple!

We look forward to working with you.

 

Sources:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2017/09/13/the-10-companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations-in-2017/
https://www.ft.com/content/f81ac17a-68ae-11e8-b6eb-4acfcfb08c11
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karstenstrauss/2017/09/13/the-10-companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations-in-2017/

 

“You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time…” 

You have all probably heard this famous quote from Rick Warren a well-known philanthropist, but for this article I thought it apt to highlight…

Volunteering is exactly that you see, giving a person or organisation some of your time, with the hope you will in some way make a difference.  What a great gift to give, and one I feel which is hugely underrated!

In recent years, volunteering has been used as a tool for employee engagement and retainment; and a study by Volunteering Australia demonstrated that organisations which have volunteer programmes find it easier to recruit and retain good people, something most People/ HR professionals already know. A You Gov survey published in 2010 showed that managers who supported employee volunteering saw a 55% improvement in their employee retention; the report is backed by the Institute of Directors. You see, having an organisational volunteering program is so much more than just about employee retention… but in a competitive labour market improved employee retention is as good a reason as any for having one…

Increasingly more today than ever before, the younger workforce – the ‘gen Zers’ and millennial’s (I just about make it into this group!) – want their employers to provide workplace environments where they can achieve fulfilment, meaning and purpose.

According to Sage People, the usual perks such as gym memberships, health plans and bonus schemes are apparently not enough for these two generations. They’re looking for a more rewarding, engaging and meaningful workplace experience.  In fact, 53% of under-35s want to volunteer more than they do, with this figure increasing to 60% amongst 18-24-year-olds, according to a recent report by City Philanthropy. ‘

Aside from just being a great perk for colleagues, companies that offer paid time-off for volunteering can attract and retain  top talent, boost productivity, instil a sense of purpose and meaning in employees, and go some way to improving the employee engagement challenge.

What could companies gain from giving employees the gift of time?

1) Improved colleague retention

Research by Great Place to Work looked at thousands of employee surveys from companies on its 50 best Workplaces that Give Back list and revealed that workers at these organisations say they’re more likely to stay with their employer for a long time as a result of the company’s volunteer programs.

2) #LoveWhereYouWork

Employees at firms with volunteer days are proud to tell others where they work.

They’ll tweet, Facebook and also Instagram (other social media platforms are available…) about their paid-time off to volunteer. All of which further enhances the organisation’s perception in the community and raises the profile of the business, particularly amongst prospective employees.  For housing organisations, it also enables colleagues in feeling closer to our communities – the reason we are here and our social purpose.

3) Connected teams (through team days!)

When whole teams participate in a worthwhile activity for a good cause, even just for a day, a sense of teamwork is fostered. Pulling together for a common goal, especially when it’s for a charity or community project, enables employees to bond and support each other. Once built, this sense of teamwork can continue back in the workplace with a renewed sense of commitment to one another.

4) Developing people

Volunteering can enable employees to learn and develop new skills. Off-site projects with community organisations can open up a whole new skill-set for an employee, enabling them to try things they’ve never experienced before.  Learning a new skill adds to a person’s sense of worth, can boost their motivation, make them feel valuable and positively affect their overall wellbeing.

5) Uncovering aspiring leaders

Volunteer programs can be a great way for managers to see which team members might make future business leaders. A team volunteering day can be an ideal environment to discover who has a natural aptitude for leading and should be put on a fast-track for Leadership development.  At Aster, we have developed an element of our programme specifically enabling aspiring leaders to bid to lead community projects – this delivering both business and community impact!

6) Happier, healthier staff

Companies who offer volunteering days or schemes report a reduction in sick leave as employees want to work for a company that values them and gives back. They feel more satisfied, motivated, so staff morale is higher.  We haven’t yet tracked this at Aster but will look at this data and report back at a later date.  Let me know if there are any of you who have already!

So, who’s already doing it well (other than Aster of course)?

Apparently, Salesforce topped the 2017 annual World’s Best Workplaces list, due to cultivating pride in its employees and inspiring them through its ‘relentless commitment to community involvement’.  According to Great Place to Work, who compile the rankings, 97% of employees said they felt proud about the way Salesforce contributes to the community.

What about Aster?

At Aster, we believe in people power and are investing into a volunteering programme which delivers both business and community impact through investing in our communities where they need it the most; this through the Aster Foundation. The programme itself has been built in conjunction with partners across our communities and we are lucky enough to have some larger organisations become corporate partners of the programme.  This means, their employees will be investing their time and effort into improving our communities too – this because our values align.

We really want our people to have a fantastic colleague experience; from looking through the programme and guidance, the support and information given leading up to the volunteering opportunity and also engagement afterwards.  We are clear on how each opportunity drives strategy performance and have a matrix which sits behind the programme that allows us to see how the programme is delivering its impact for our colleagues, the business and our communities.  We launch this on July 30^th 2019 and I look forward to sharing the results we collect on the difference we make through investing time into cultivating our people power!

 

 

Sources of information:
CIPD
https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/
http://www.sagepeople.com
http://www.do-it.org.uk
Great places to work benchmarking survey
http://www.salesforce.com 

 

 

 

 

 

The way we do business is changing, this whilst our customers and employees are also becoming more diverse.

The development of the knowledge economy means moving away from the ‘norm’ and instead working towards flatter, less hierarchical structures within organisations…

Increased agility and strong leadership are the necessary responses to these changes and also the emerging markets, economic downturn and the cultural change inspired by social media and new ways of communicating.

Change and evolution is great, but with leadership being a key enabler in adapting to these changes, we need to ask ourselves whether the current style of leadership in our organisations is enabling us to evolve or actually acting as a blocker in achieving success.

There are so many books, blogs and conversations around leadership styles.  Not only should you find one which works for you and your personality, but also for the period which your organisation finds itself within.  In my opinion, you should really explore inclusive leadership if you want to increase agility and resilience in your organisations.  Inclusive leadership really drives a modern and progressive organisation towards increased levels of success because at its centre, its heart – it’s all about people.

Research has shown that inclusive leadership has what it takes to create the diversity of background and thought, collaboration, performance and innovation to meet today’s business challenges and support business growth. Yet inclusive leadership remains a rare gem in organisations today. 66% of employees in a recent leadership survey reported that, in their experience, less than half of the managers and leaders in their organisation are great inclusive leaders. There is little formal development or motivation driving inclusive leadership in organisations today. This needs to change. Only a proactive approach will enable inclusive leadership to become more widespread across UK business.

I agree…but what actually is it?!

Inclusion happens when leaders value the differences as well as the commonalities of others. Let’s first hone in on what it means to value someone’s differences.

Essentially this is about valuing a team member’s uniqueness, recognising them for what they bring to the table and helping them to stand out from the crowd. So instead of criticising people for being different or having unusual ideas, you’d support them and appreciate them the way they are. This is a need that we all have – being acknowledged for the unique talents that we possess.

Secondly it is about the act of valuing people’s commonalities.

This is about helping team members fulfil another fundamental need: the need to belong to the group and to not stand out too far from the crowd.

Leaders can help individuals to get this need fulfilled by valuing what they have in common with others and by making team members feel that they fit in and belong to the group. Socialising outside of work, celebrating successes, planning collaboratively and asking each team member for their views and opinions are behaviours that support this need. So in summary, you have to foster feelings of uniqueness AND belongingness if you want to become a successful inclusive leader.

Highly inclusive leaders demonstrate six signature traits—in terms of what they think about and what they do—that are reinforcing and interrelated. Collectively, these six traits represent a powerful capability highly adapted to diversity. Embodiment of these traits enables leaders to operate more effectively within diverse markets, better connect with diverse customers, access a more diverse spectrum of ideas, and enable diverse individuals in the workforce to reach their full potential.

Trait 1: Commitment

Highly inclusive leaders are committed to diversity and inclusion because these objectives align with their personal values and because they believe in the business case.

Trait 2: Courage

Highly inclusive leaders speak up and challenge the status quo, and they are humble about their strengths and weaknesses.

Trait 3: Cognisance of bias

Highly inclusive leaders are mindful of personal and organisational blind spots, and self-regulate to help ensure “fair play.”

Trait 4: Curiosity

Highly inclusive leaders have an open mindset, a desire to understand how others view and experience the world, and a tolerance for ambiguity.

Trait 5: Culturally intelligent

Highly inclusive leaders are confident and effective in cross-cultural interactions.

Trait 6: Collaborative

Highly inclusive leaders empower individuals as well as create and leverage the thinking of diverse groups.

Don’t despair if you fall within the 66% who feel they don’t see these behaviours within their organisation – as these skills can be built into your organisation through your recruitment process, leadership development and also through your values.  They can be learned. Its genuinely worth the investment of time, as not only will you be able to respond to the ever changing operating environment, the business case for creating an inclusive workforce speaks for itself:

Diverse teams perform better:

Cognitively diverse teams solve problems faster than teams of cognitively similar people, according to 2017 research published in Harvard Business Review. The researchers noted that, while many organisations might already be cognitively diverse, “people like to fit in, so they are cautious about sticking their necks out. When we have a strong, homogeneous culture, we stifle the natural cognitive diversity in groups through the pressure to conform.”
Meanwhile a 2013 report by Deloitte found that when employees ‘think their organisation is committed to and supportive of diversity, and they feel included’, their ability to innovate increases by 83%.

Diverse teams have also been found to make decisions 60% faster than non-diverse teams. “Unfortunately, non-inclusive decision-making is all too common,” says report author Erik Larson. “All-male teams make about 38% of the decisions in a typical large company, and the gap is even worse among less diverse firms.

Greater innovation and creativity:

Having a workforce comprised of people with different backgrounds, experiences and skills means the ideas generated by these teams won’t be homogeneous – they’ll be innovative and creative. And this can have a significant impact on an organisation’s bottom line; public companies with a diverse executive board have a 95% higher return on equity than those with non-diverse boards, according to a McKinsey study.

It’ll boost your employer brand:

With larger UK organisations required to publicly disclose their gender pay gaps for the first time in April 2018, there is more public awareness than ever of companies’ DEI initiatives (or lack of them).

In a 2017 survey by PwC, 54% of women and 45% of men surveyed said they researched if a company had DEI policies in place when deciding to accept a position with their most recent employer. A further 61% of women and 48% of men said they assessed the diversity of the company’s leadership team when deciding to accept an offer.

So it makes sense that, according to a recent Glassdoor study, more than a third (35%) of hiring decision-makers at UK organisations expect to increase their investment in DEI. More than half (59%) said that a lack of investment in DEI was a barrier to attracting high-quality candidates, while a fifth (20%) said DEI initiatives were among the most significant factors that influenced a candidate’s decision to join an organisation.

 

 

 

 

 

Global warming…it’s one of the biggest challenges of our time and one I feel is somewhat glossed over with how we live our lives.  I was at a conference recently and I heard the most astonishing fact… We only have around 60 harvests left.  That means global warming (as well as other factors) has had such an impact on our top soil, that will in my lifetime mean we aren’t able to harvest crops?!  How did that even happen?  The facts are there and have always been readily available…yet we carry on with our busy lives at such a pace that we don’t realise the impact of our action or non-action until its virtually too late… I for one would like to stop this behaviour.  Sure, life is busy and challenging, but I want to focus on improving the things that really matter.  Things like global warming.  Or even social warming?!  Social warming is the phrase I use to describe our indifference around ignoring social challenges such as loneliness and isolation.  Global warming maybe the biggest environmental challenge of our time, but I believe social warming is one pf the biggest social challenges; and one which is on the increase.

We are all going to age and we are living longer.  Did you know that for those born in 2013 onwards, a third of these will live past 100!!!  There are currently roughly 12 million people in the UK aged 65+ and by 2040, a quarter of our population will be aged 65+.  A third of our older population live alone, this in spite of a quarter of them needing help with at least one activity of daily living such as washing or shopping etc.  This number as we age, is only going to increase…

Loneliness and isolation – although we commonly think of this for our older people, it’s also an issue for our younger people.  In an age where we can connect through the internet at any given second, we still have 10% of people aged 16 – 24 who felt they were always or often lonely – the highest proportion for any age group. Teens can have thousands of friends online and yet feel unsupported and isolated – could technology really be exacerbating social isolation?  We now walk around with our head in our phones, we don’t have time to look up and smile at other people, or to notice things around us.  For some people, chatting at a supermarket checkout had been the social highlight of their week – now even that is changing through automation.  Overall in the UK, 1 in 20 people always or often feel lonely… showing me that there is an increasing issue with people having a regular amount of meaningful contact with others.  The harm loneliness can cause, both physically and mentally, can be devastating to people of all ages.  I recently heard that it can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.  If this is so – then where are the hard hitting adverts pushing us to stop social warming?  Can you remember the smoking adverts which compelled people to change their behaviours…where are these for social warming – and why isn’t there a bigger push on ending this challenge?

It’s not all doom and gloom though, there is some great work being done through the ‘Campaign to end loneliness’ and Silver line – also through community groups and charities.  Even some housing associations are doing some really great innovative work such as piloting smart homes.  I however can’t help feeling that we could do so much more through harnessing the special parts of technology and also ourselves as people – so here is my challenge to you…

Firstly, be honest with yourself…have you ever felt lonely or isolated?  How did this make you feel?  I have, and I guess this is why I feel compelled to raise the profile of this issue, because I understand if only briefly the impact of not feeling part of something bigger than myself or my own thoughts.  I believe the only way you can make real social change is by talking openly and honestly about a subject, educating people and inspiring people to make a difference if only small.  For the next week, put your phone in your pocket as you walk around (and leave it there)  instead try engaging with someone with a smile or saying hello.  For 55% of older people who live alone – sometimes their TV is what they rely on for company.  Why don’t you be the one to brighten someone’s day by taking an interest in them and making them feel part of something.  Why not make an effort to chat to the neighbour you see doesn’t have many visitors or even leave a card through their door with your name and details and an offer of a roast dinner on a Sunday.  It’s not rocket science we need, its kindness.  If any of these facts made you want to make a difference, why not take to Twitter or LinkedIn and tell me what you did to make a difference using the hashtag  #socialwarming

I can’t wait to hear from you…go on… make a difference to someone’s life today (and tell me about it)

I have spent a lot of time recently thinking about my ‘mission’ and also the things I use my voice for.

These thoughts brought on by an event I attended around female empowerment where I was surrounded by some of the most impressive women I have ever met from all around the globe.

I walked into the House of Commons in May and I was excited.  Excited to meet likeminded people and excited to talk about real issues effecting real people – more importantly, how we could work together to create real change.  Helping people to change their lives and live the best version of their life is what makes me get up in the morning you see.

I feel the need to say that within the first 10 minutes of this event, I had forgotten my name and the job that I did and stumbled on these most basic questions when asked…I fear my excitement had turned into being a little overwhelmed and I did even debate going to hide out in the toilets for the rest of the day…because who would know right?!  Well you will be pleased to know that this story doesn’t end with me hiding in a toilet.. the event was an incredible success and for me the most successful part was getting me to really hone in my vision on how I can help to change the world… a big ask isn’t it!  Well, the people crazy enough to think they can change the world usually can and I think we all do in our own way.

Whilst we were talking in our workshops, people were discussing what drives them and all of a sudden, my vision started tumbling out of my mouth into fully formed sentences.  I had remembered my name, my job and most of all, my purpose.  My vision you see, is to create a world without stairs… literally and metaphorically.  The ladies on the table asked me to elaborate so that’s what I will also do for you.

We have roughly *7 million people in the UK (*Scope) who have various mobility impairments which can result in difficulty climbing stairs.  We have an ageing population and with age (for some) comes less mobility and sometimes a difficulty with stairs.  Have you ever stopped in a city and looked at just how many stairs there are??  Well I can tell you that there are hundreds of thousands in London alone.  Did you know that if you walked the stairs for the Hampstead tube station for 100 days it is the equivalent of climbing Everest!!  I have many fascinating stair trivia now, due to researching this blog…which I may add I will not bore you with.  I am now however someone you will want on your pub quiz team for stairs related questions!

Stairs are more economical in cost in comparison to some ramps and we put in stairs, sometimes because of space, but mostly (after speaking with architects) because it’s what we have always done and they look pleasing on the eye in a landscape or property.  So as a society, we put in stairs even though we know a large percentage of the population can’t use them…but don’t despair…because of Equalities legislation and also people recognising people’s needs, we then have some ramps, elevators, chair lifts and also escalators…as well as the stairs.  What an expense.

If we only had ramps or something similarly accessible, everyone could get around well.  No workarounds.

The stairs here are a symbol for the barriers we put in place for our people and communities – sometimes without even realising.  We then try and find a workaround when we understand the barrier and its impact. Thinking in this way is costly and also inefficient, there are also impacts on people whilst they wait for our bright ideas.  Now, I am not saying the answer to all of our problems is a world with ramps! I instead challenge everyone reading this to instead apply the ethos of ‘a world without stairs’ to whatever you are working on.  Let’s not find workarounds anymore or create unintentional unequal playing fields.  Let’s work to have no barriers and also applaud those who actively work to remove the current barriers which exist – that’s what I will be doing with this blog… talking about my new role within Aster in which I will be trying to create a world without stairs on my new adventure as Director of the Aster Foundation.

Now, according to my partner I am passionate about my work but I know myself and I have a tendency to waffle, so I hope you understand the point I am trying to make.  The next time you are out, take 5 minutes and stop and look at the world around you.  The amazing and impressive world/ society that we as human beings created.  Now, think about all of the different people in the world…can you see any barriers?  I challenge you to remove them – let’s start a revolution and be crazy enough to think we can actually change the world… go on, I dare you.

Did you know that since some of the earliest writings from the world’s greatest thought leaders the notion of doing what you love (seeking a career that fills you with passion) has been discussed at length. But with current research showing how many people are disengaged, dissatisfied, and frustrated at work, I wondered is it possible to flip the words—is it possible to simply love what you do—your current job?

Finding a job you love is age-old advice. A well known philosopher (Confucius) said to “do what you love.” His words, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” have been repeated throughout history.  And let’s not forget the thoughts of Maya Angelou who said “…pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.”

So what about the other approach —telling people to love what they do? You don’t have to look far to find the advice of Steve Jobs who said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”  He was a great guy who seemed to love his work… and was incredibly successful; so is this key component?

Research shows that great work (award-winning work) is produced when people focus on doing something others love, basically asking yourself the question; “What difference could I make that other people would love?”  Or how can I make a positive difference to others?  The point is, loving your job is one thing—the activities and responsibilities you have on a day-to day basis. But loving the impact your job has on someone else is another. If you are not totally happy with what you are doing, try this one little simple activity: Go and see your work being received. See how it impacts someone else, another co-worker, a customer, another team, or whoever benefits from your work.

I work in social housing and every single person in this sector is an important cog in helping us to house our customers and deliver housing and related support services to customers right first time.  You are awesome… so whenever work gets busy or you feel it unmanageable, remember  what you do and the impact of your job on our communities and repeat after me.. “I am awesome because I work in social housing and I love what I do!”