Some sector leaders ‘more concerned about their careers than their cause’
In a challenging talk to delegates at the Directory of Social Change’s online leadership and governance summit, Mark Simms, chief executive of the support charity P3, also criticised sector leaders for not speaking out and said he was “absolutely furious about this slightly unhealthy obsession with being seen with important people”.
He said: “Charity leadership has become something on LinkedIn that is really about selfies.”
Simms, who is about to step down from the board of the Charity Commission after an almost four-year term, which included a spell as interim chair, said he was concerned that “personal ambition is getting in the way of delivering real change”.
He went on to say: “I think for some leaders, though, the job and the career has become far more important than the mission and purpose of the charities they’re leading.
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Shelter chief to step down after a year
Sarah Elliott is to step down as chief executive of the housing and homelessness charity Shelter after slightly more than a year in the role.
Elliott, who joined Shelter in September last year from the top job at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said “the role ahead needs a different set of strengths to what I bring”.
In a post on LinkedIn, Elliott said it was right for her to step aside now rather than later and her last day would be 16 October.
“My focus has been on laying the foundations for Shelter to remain in a strong position to lead the fight for home as we look towards our next strategy,” she said.
“With homelessness at the top of the political agenda and more collaboration across the sector than ever before, I leave with real confidence in the Shelter team and our partners.”
Elliott said she was looking forward to what comes next and would say more soon “on some exciting plans I’ve been making”.
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Children’s charity reveals new name after federation exit
SOS Children’s Villages UK has changed its name to Right to Childhood.
The UK organisation’s rebrand follows its “values-led” decision to leave the SOS Children’s Villages Federation – which it had been part of since its inception more than 50 years ago – in March.
Since leaving the federation, the charity has ended its child sponsorship programme, streamlined its supported programmes and developed new safeguarding and due diligence processes for its work with local partners around the world.
Right to Childhood had been moving away from the “villages”-style model associated with SOS Children’s Villages “for some time”, said Sarah Bradford, director of communications, brand and advocacy at the charity.
Under its new identity, Right to Childhood will focus on preventing families from being split apart, strengthening communities and supporting systems that uphold children’s rights.
This mission is reflected by its new strapline: “Protect children, strengthen families.”
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