Pick of the Month - January 2025

Welcome to January’s Pick of the Month! Start the year with inspiration from incredible individuals making a real impact in their communities. Dive in to discover their journeys, challenges, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Charity Leader of the Month – Jo Moore, Accommodation Concern

Accommodation Concern works to prevent and alleviate poverty, need, hardship and distress through its delivery of advice, support and preventative services. It’s services, which are free and available to anyone over the age of 16, are designed to end homelessness, build independence and resilience and improve well-being and life chances. We spoke to Jo Moore, the CEO of Accommodation Concern about her experience and the work of the organisation.  

Jo shared a little about the important work of Accommodation Concern, and the organisation’s mission:

“Accommodation Concern is based in Kettering and serves the whole of Northamptonshire. In our work we focus on two core areas: providing supported accommodation for single homeless individuals and offering comprehensive advice on housing, debt, and benefits. Our mission is to empower people to escape debt, secure housing, and access their entitled benefits, thereby helping them to live their best possible life. We believe in equipping our clients with the knowledge and skills necessary to overcome poverty and homelessness.’’ 

 

Next, Jo talked us through her experience and the meaningful impact of her current role:

"My journey into leadership at Accommodation Concern began with a deep commitment to accessibility and preventing hardship. Over the years, I've held various roles within the nonprofit sector, each enriching my understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable populations. As the leader of Accommodation Concern, my role involves strategic oversight, fundraising, community engagement, and ensuring that our services adapt to the evolving needs of our clients and community. We proved our resilience by continuing to provide services during the lockdowns of 2020, which also saw growth in our outreach and impact."

 

We asked Jo what advice she would share with prospective charity leaders:

"My advice to those aspiring to lead in the nonprofit sector is threefold: 
1.    Understand your mission deeply - every decision should align with your core values and goals.
2.    Build resilience - the work can be challenging, particularly during crises like lockdowns, but staying committed to your cause provides strength.
3.    Foster collaboration - engage with other organisations, stakeholders, and the community. Collaboration can amplify your impact." 

 

Finally, Jo shared her passions and hopes for the future of the sector: 

"I would ideally like to see a world where the need for our services is eradicated, and homelessness becomes a thing of the past. Until then, I am passionate about ensuring that services for those in need are accessible at the right times, without any reservations or judgments. Streamlining the process to make support more readily available could significantly improve lives."

 

Keep up to date with the work of Accommodation Concern by following its Instagram page @accommodationconcern 

 

Social Entrepreneur of the Month - Isabelle Kirkham, The Care Experienced Movement (CXM)

Isabelle Kirkham is the co-founder of The Care Experienced Movement (CXM), a civil rights movement led by and for Care Experienced People. Through CXM, Isabelle and their team are building a powerful collective voice to advocate for transformative change in the UK’s care system. Drawing on their own journey through foster care, Isabelle is committed to amplifying Care Experienced voices and fighting for a future where care is an action, not just a system.

Isabelle was inspired to establish CXM to address a gap in leadership within organisations serving Care Experienced communities:  

"Honestly, there are several reasons behind the Care Experienced Movement. However, the main reason is to establish a space that empowers us to reclaim ownership of what it truly means to be a care experienced person. Often, care experienced-focused organisations are not led by people like us. I wanted to change that. Nothing About Us, Without Us always."

 

One of the biggest challenges Isabelle has faced is being taken seriously by stakeholders:

"It’s been quite challenging to get stakeholders—such as funders, local authorities, and even other organisations—to genuinely listen to what we have to say. It can become quite exhausting to constantly explain why an organisation like ours, led by Care Experienced People, is essential for our community."

 

Despite these hurdles, Isabelle finds joy in the connections CXM has fostered:

"Meeting other people in my community is such a wonderful experience. Being care experienced is often a lonely and isolated journey, so it’s incredible to be able to connect and make friends with so many people who share a part of my identity."

 

Finally, Isabelle offers this advice to aspiring social entrepreneurs:

"Don’t let the rejections discourage you. Every ‘no’ can eventually turn into a ‘yes.’ Keep trying and reaching out to people. If I had given up every time I faced a ‘no,’ the Care Experienced Movement wouldn’t exist."

To find out more about The Care Experienced Movement and how to get involved, visit careexperiencedmovement.com.

 

Fellow of the month - Maria Moorwood, Modern Art Oxford

Maria Moorwood is the Head of Development at Modern Art Oxford, one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces. Modern Art Oxford presents a bold artistic programme that places artists and audiences in conversation, with a commitment to education, inclusion and internationalism. Maria joined the organisation in 2019.
Prior to her current role, Maria worked at Leighton House Museum, leading the fundraising campaign for the museum’s award-winning capital renovation. Maria has spent her career working in the arts and culture sector, in the UK and abroad, and across a variety of artforms. 

During our conversation, Maria gave us a glimpse into her current role and shared a little of her past experience:

"As Head of Development, I lead on a broad portfolio of income generating activity with a focus on contributed income. This includes the delivery of a successful VIP programme of events for a committed and growing group of individual supporters; as well as leading on approaches to trusts and foundations and developing corporate and other partnerships. I also work with Senior Management colleagues to deliver organisational, strategic priorities.

I have worked in a range of cultural organisations and in varied capacities, driven by a belief in the power of the arts to effect social change and with a commitment to opening up access and engaging diverse audiences.”"

 

Maria then highlighted an exciting milestone for Modern Art Oxford during a period of change and reflection:

"Modern Art Oxford is completing a major capital refurbishment and is on the cusp of celebrating its 60th anniversary. This moment of change and increased ambition is also one of opportunity to lead on environmental responsibility and create a representative artistic programme, grounded in local and international partnerships.

In the wake of the pandemic and as organisations grapple with the cost-of-living crisis and an increasingly fierce fundraising climate, an innovative approach to partnerships can lead to a more holistic understanding of the role of the arts and its ability to effect social change. It is also the moment to invest in the workforce and their wellbeing, to support an inclusive and resilient sector." 

 

Maria shared what excites her the most about being part of the Fellowship Programme:

"I look forward to working with and learning from a group of peers from different professional backgrounds and grounding knowledge gained through experience in theoretical approaches that will strengthen our fundraising strategy and forge a more compelling case for support. I am excited to share this learning with colleagues and Trustees so that the organisation can benefit in the long term, particularly as it delivers the ambition behind its capital project."

 

Lastly, we asked Maria what she feels most passionate about championing in the sector:

"A more collaborative sector that looks beyond itself to work in partnership for the benefit of audiences and which nurtures young fundraisers with varied perspectives and experiences to support engaging and transformative artistic programmes." 

 

Keep up to date with the work of Modern Art Oxford on Instagram: @mao_gallery

 

Trustee of the Month – Faye Lorente Shyllon, The New Art Gallery Walsall

This month, we’re delighted to spotlight Faye Lorente Shyllon, a dedicated trustee of The New Art Gallery Walsall which presents, collects and interprets historic, modern and contemporary art in innovative and challenging ways.

Faye explained how she became involved with the gallery: 

"I was actively looking to become more involved with The New Art Gallery Walsall and replied to an open call on the gallery website. I am a frequent visitor and in awe of the permanent collection. It is very special. I could not believe my luck when I got the role!"

For Faye, the gallery’s commitment to inclusivity, ethical practices, and high artistic standards is a key source of inspiration:

"The hard work that everyone puts into ensuring that the gallery is inclusive, well-funded, ethical, engaging, wide-reaching, and maintains a high standard of art presentation and practice is inspiring. The visitor experience is central to our success, and we welcome everyone. Being part of a board that demonstrates such dedication and shared skill sets makes me very proud."

When asked about her favourite aspect of being a trustee, Faye highlighted the joy of meetings:

"I do love the meetings; they’re held in one great piece of architecture! The surroundings are familiar to me and always a source of inspiration. I get to be part of a diverse discussion with people I’m interested in, involving all aspects of the organisation.

Meetings are becoming more innovative and creative to ensure we connect with everyone who works in the gallery at all levels. We are all genuinely passionate about the gallery’s success, function, and future."

 

However, being a trustee is not without its challenges. As someone who works full-time, Faye shared the importance of preparation:

"I must ensure that I make ample time for reading the necessary paperwork before the meetings, which can be tight. A good understanding of the content is vital to contribute to discussions and decisions in an informed and meaningful way."

 

Faye also offered advice for those considering a trustee role:

"Make sure it’s an organisation you truly wish to support. There’s a lot of information you will need to read that may not be your speciality, like finance reports and risk assessments. Having an unaffected and honest interest will get you through those tricky times when trying to grasp new information under pressure."

Keep up to date with The New Art Gallery Walsall on Instagram @thenewartgallerywalsall