Pilotlight

Anyone for a pro bono Bake Off… I’m so looking forward to talking at this free and open event on the dynamic world of skills-based volunteering. Thanks Jennie Talman for the invitation and to Costello Medical for hosting us all. I have been writing up a series of guides to skills-based volunteering, with help from friends in the field as well as the team and volunteers at Pilotlight - forthcoming - so it is all top of mind. And we have been running, with Costello, a survey of the need across health charities for skilled volunteers with Costello - the survey is open until 4 April and has a great response so far. The event by Passion Partnership CIC will explore how to bake pro bono into a business setting. And I do love it that Eventbrite gives me other options of baking-themed events coming up….Baking pro bono? Nordic baking? Another few years and I’ll be ready to try out for Pru and Paul…

Turbulent times? Hagit Amsterdam who leads here on learning for charity and business leaders recounts an insight about experienced seamen: during a rough storm, their skill lies in stabilising the ship, not calming the sea. This wisdom resonates deeply with modern leadership challenges and Hagit unpacks some thoughts on this, drawing on her faith and heritage - and how we can move from rough seas to repair and care for the world around us. The compass and the anchor... and how to use these in our current times. https://lnkd.in/e5SRMZgs

Earlier today, we had the privilege of joining Sodexo UK & Ireland for a learning and celebration session alongside Gaddum & Door 84 - two incredible charities making a real difference in their communities. Through this bespoke talent development programme, two teams of Sodexo leaders from across the business came together to tackle real-world challenges of strategic significance for their charity clients. Guided by Pilotlight’s expert project managers, the teams applied their subject matter expertise in a new setting, stretching themselves to deliver transformative projects designed to strengthen the charities for the future. The result? Lasting impact for Gaddum & Door 84, invaluable leadership development for Sodexo’s participants and powerful new connections made between business and charity. A huge thank you to everyone involved - this is 'Learning, by doing Good' #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagementDevelopment #SkilledVolunteering #EmpoweringPartnerships #LearningByDoingGood

When I think of my father, it is with his NHS spectacles. When tools like glasses are so practical and everyday, they become part and parcel of what it means to be human. Digital tools are now close to this. Pilotlight and Mindera UK Foundation ran a superb session I attended in Leicester last week on using generative AI for charity fundraising - including Damien Reynolds BEM Lauren Francis Chantal Reed Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Link to Change Focus Charity Quetzal Leicester. The most human of causes, the most emotive of appeals can be enhanced by the most modern of technology. But there is no NHS for digital tools as yet and as fast as technologies like AI are spreading, there are still cost and other barriers to digital take-up for charities. So, it is a good time to share that the 2025 edition of the Charity Digital Skills Report is in preparation - and calling for input from charities on where they are at on digital. The report has run since 2017 and been a key part of a wonderfully effective movement focused on equipping civil society to make the most of digital tools. It is one of the most successful examples of organisation development over the period. By taking this year’s survey charities can understand where they’re at with digital and also plan for the future by sharing where they are at with artificial intelligence. It is a a shout out too to so many wonderful digital trustees that help charities from the Boardroom - for us at Pilotlight including Amanda Rothwell and Alison Forrestal, and before Peter Moss The 2025 report is run by Zoe Amar FCIM and co authored with Think Social Tech, with support from friends at the Catalyst Network, Torchbox, Lightful and Digital Candle My dad passed away twenty five years ago. I remember welcoming him to my offices when running the charity New Economics Foundation to show him 'the internet' for the first time. I'd love the chance for him to don his glasses and for us to explore what is possible now... https://lnkd.in/ewegr2mf  #CharityDigiReport #digital #skills

Today, the Mindera UK Foundation, in collaboration with Pilotlight, hosted an inspiring event for Charity Leaders & Fundraisers in the #Midlands, featuring a workshop on Leveraging AI for Fundraising at Mindera - UK's #Leicester office! ✨ Speakers included: 🔹 Ed Mayo, CEO (Pilotlight) 🔹 Damien Reynolds BEM, Charity Leader (Mindera UK Foundation) 🔹 Lauren Francis, Tech Educator (Mindera UK Foundation) 🔹 Chantal Reed, Global Marketing Exec (Mindera) 🔹 Diogo V., Generative AI Engineer (Mindera Labs) 🔍 Key takeaways from the day: ✅ How AI is transforming grant fundraising, corporate partnerships, and individual giving ✅ Practical insights on AI-driven marketing, donor engagement, and communications ✅ Expert advice on prompt engineering from a Generative AI specialist Beyond the learning, we enjoyed great conversations, meaningful connections—and of course, a nice pizza lunch! 🍕 Thank you to those who joined us, from organisations including; The National Lottery Community Fund, Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, Link to Change, Focus Charity, Quetzal Leicester, SERVE and more. #AIforFundraising #Charities

A pleasure to be here in Leicester for our Pilotlight charity forum on using AI for fundraising success, thanks to Damien, Chantal, Lauren and the team at Mindera UK Foundation

Celebrating the unsung heroes of youth work and the power of charities like Mary’s Youth Club.   Last week my time as a Pilotlighter working with Mary's Youth club came to an end. I am pretty sure it's not a goodbye but it is a huge milestone that I wanted to recognise.   Mary’s Youth Club is a powerhouse of support for young people in Islington. It’s a space where they can build confidence, develop skills, and feel part of a community that genuinely has their back. Whether it’s creative projects, trips or simply a safe space to grow, the team at Mary’s are there, day in, day out, changing lives in ways that often go unseen.   Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside their CEO, Ops manager, and inspiring youth workers through Pilotlight, helping them explore how they can have even greater impact. We also got to meet the young people themselves - who promptly humbled us by wiping the floor with us in concentration games.   This project has been particularly special for me. Having become a trustee of Pilotlight last year, I’ve had the chance to see its mission in action...not just from the boardroom but through the work itself. Watching my fellow Pilotlighters lean in, ask the tough questions (even if it was sometimes the same one over and over 😉 ), and bring their expertise to the table has been brilliant. And none of it would have been possible without Matias Ilivitzky, our fantastic project manager, who kept us all on track with his patience, positivity and perspective.   Charities like Mary's Youth Club, and the people who power them, deserve more recognition, more funding, and more support. Pilotlight plays a small but mighty role in helping them amplify their impact, and I’m proud to be part of it.   Thanks so much Matias, Gareth Simpson, Duncan Scorey, CFA, MRICS and of course the inimitable Sally Baxter you and your team are such a force of positivity, thanks for letting us into to see the amazing work you do.   (Image description: The Pilotlight and Mary's team captured at the end of our last meeting together. Big smiles all round.)

If you've ever wondered what 'Learning, By Doing Good' is about, then look no further. Congratulations to all involved so far. We can't wait for the final outcome of this powerful business/charity collaboration. #LearningByDoingGood #businesscharitypartnership #learninganddevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #managementdevelopment #socialvalue #responsiblebusiness

This promises to be a fascinating workshop to explore the potential of AI in charity fundraising. We're incredibly grateful to the Mindera UK Foundation and the Mindera - UK team for co-hosting this event with us. If you are a Midlands based charity leader/fundraiser reserve your spot now as tickets are limited:

Our friends at the CIPD Trust are growing their #probono support offer from #HR professionals, good news for charities that need just this. Their coming event on 12 March is on “Good workforce planning keeps charities strong”. https://lnkd.in/dXTUYeJ7 Zoë Raymond