Pick of the Month - August 2026

Welcome to August's Pick of the Month! We’re excited to feature individuals who are making a real impact in the charity world. From creative social innovators to tireless charity leaders, their work is all about driving change and improving lives. We’ll take a closer look at their unique paths, the challenges they’ve navigated, and the incredible contributions they’re making to communities across the UK. Come and join us in celebrating their inspiring efforts! 

Trustee of the Month - Joshua Hopkins, Atrium Homes

Atrium Homes supplies, manage and maintain more than 1,200 affordable rented homes across Ayrshire.

We spoke to Joshua Hopkins, one of Atrium Homes' trustees.

Joshua told us a little bit about what his mission is:  

"I’m a trustee at Atrium Homes, a housing association committed to delivering safe, secure and affordable homes for our communities. Day to day, my work is about strengthening governance which involves asking the right questions, holding the executive team to account, and making sure decisions are made with tenants at the centre. My mission is to attract more young people onto boards, because fresh ideas and lived experience are exactly what the housing sector needs to move forward."

We asked Joshua how he got to where he is today and what his role involves:  

"I got to where I am today through perseverance. Imposter syndrome made me question early on whether I belonged in leadership spaces, but sticking with it helped me grow. I’ve learned that continuous development, staying curious, learning from others, and being willing to evolve, is one of the most powerful tools a trustee can have. In my role, I help shape a bold, forward thinking strategy, provide financial scrutiny for long term sustainability, and support the executive team. Above all, I make sure the organisation consistently does what’s best for its tenants."

Joshua shared some advice for aspiring trustees: 

"Back yourself. I remember hesitating in my first few board meetings, worried my questions weren’t “senior” enough, but the ones I was most nervous to ask often mattered most. You don’t need decades of experience to add value, you need curiosity, integrity, and the willingness to ask what others might overlook. Choose an organisation whose mission genuinely resonates with you, and don’t be afraid to constructively challenge the status quo."

Finally, Joshua discussed what he's passionate about seeing change in the sector:  

"Improving the diversity of boards. Too many still rely on narrow professional backgrounds or traditional pathways into leadership. When trustees reflect the communities they serve, across age, background, and experience, organisations make better decisions. I want governance to become more accessible, more representative, and more forward looking, because that’s how we build organisations capable of meeting the challenges ahead."

Read more about the work at Atrium Homes.

Charity Leader of the Month - Cerys Shepherd, Director of Fundraising at Become

Become is a national charity that supports every child and young person with experience of the care system.

We spoke to Cerys Shepherd, Director of Fundraising at Become.

Cerys told us a little bit about what her mission and vision is:

"As Director of Fundraising at Become, my role is to build the income, partnerships and long-term support that help us deliver our strategy and create lasting change for children and young people with experience of care.

What I love about fundraising is that, at its heart, it’s about connecting people to change. It’s about bringing together individuals, funders and partners around a shared belief that children and young people in care should be listened to, supported and have influence over the decisions that affect their lives.

At Become, we exist to fight for a better care experience for children and young people. We are centred on putting young people’s voices first, helping more young people access support earlier, and building community and connections around them. My role is helping create the relationships and resources that turn that ambition into reality and enable us to grow our impact over time"

We asked Cerys how she got to where she is today and what her role involves:  

"I’ve always been motivated by work that combines purpose with action and gives me the opportunity to help create meaningful change. Although I’ve worked across diverse organisations, the common thread has always been being part of work that makes a difference.

Over time, I’ve learned that fundraising is about far more than income generation. It’s about understanding what motivates people, building trust and creating partnerships that make long-term change possible.

Today, my role involves working with an amazing team of fundraisers and developing relationships with trusts, foundations, corporate partners and supporters, and supporting the team to deliver sustainable growth. I also work closely across the organisation to make sure fundraising reflects and strengthens our wider strategic goals. One of the things I enjoy most is helping translate big ambitions into practical plans that ultimately benefit children and young people."

Cerys shared some advice for aspiring leaders: 

"Stay connected to your values and don’t feel pressure to lead like anyone else. Early in your career it can be easy to think leadership means having all the answers, but I’ve found that the most effective leaders are curious, collaborative and willing to listen.

Imposter syndrome is something we all experience, even when we’re doing well, so try not to let self-doubt convince you that you don’t belong. Confidence doesn’t always come before taking on new challenges, more often it grows through doing. Be kind to yourself and to others along the way. Kindness isn’t separate from leadership; it helps build trust, creates stronger teams and makes difficult moments easier to navigate.

And finally, enjoy what you do. Leadership can be demanding, but taking time to recognise the difference you and your team are making is important. Staying connected to the impact of your work can be a powerful reminder of why you started and what you’re helping to achieve."

Finally, Cerys discussed what she's passionate about seeing change in the sector:  

"I’d love to see continued progress towards a more collaborative and sustainable charity sector, particularly in fundraising. The challenges organisations are tackling are increasingly complex, and we’ll create more impact when we work together, share learning and invest in long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes.

Within children’s social care, I’m passionate about seeing more decisions shaped by the voices and experiences of young people themselves. We know that young people are experts in their own lives, and lasting change happens when organisations and systems genuinely share power and listen to those with lived experience.

I’d also like to see greater confidence across the sector in investing in fundraising and organisational capacity. Strong charities need strong foundations, and sustainable growth allows organisations to respond to changing needs and deepen their impact over time."

Read more about the work at Become.

Social Entrepreneur of the Month - Matthew Smith, Founder and CEO of If U Care Share   

If U Care Share Foundation is a Durham-based charity established in 2011 by the Smith family who lost their son, Daniel, to suicide in 2005. They provide suicide prevention services, support after a loss to suicide, emotional and mental health education services and training programmes across the North East of England – however, represent nationally as members of the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) for Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, on occasion.

We spoke to Matthew Smith, CEO and Founder of If U Care Share.

Matthew told us a little bit about what his mission and vision is:

"Our mission is to provide fair and impartial access to timely, effective and appropriate services that are designed to meet the unique needs of people affected by, or at risk of, suicide. Our vision is a society where suicide is ultimately prevented.

It is my personal mission to prevent anyone feeling the pain we felt as a family when we lost Daniel. 20 years ago, If U Care Share was set up as a solution to a problem; that’s why we’re here today and why we are needed more than ever. The statistics simply don’t lie – but we don’t deal in numbers at If U Care Share, we care about the people behind the figures."

We asked Matthew how he got to where he is today and what his role involves:  

"Along with my brother, Ben, and cousin, Sarah, I started If U Care Share Foundation in an aim to prevent another family from suffering a similar experience to ours. I joined the charity full time after leaving college, leading on our EAMH (Emotional and Mental Health) workshops in football clubs up and down the country. In 2024, I stepped up to CEO of the charity upon my mam's retirement and transition to Trustee.

Day to day, I oversee and manage the charity, taking on several hats and different roles. I could be delivering an EAMH session at a Premier League Academy, advising the government on strategy, working with students in a school, chairing internal meetings, liaising between management and our trustees, looking into our income generation, filming for local news or awards submissions, authorising payments or attending external events. The role is so varied; every day brings a new challenge or surprise! You quite often will see me getting involved in the odd running challenge as well."

Matthew shared some advice for aspiring leaders: 

"Make sure that you believe in the values the organisation holds. These are values you expect colleagues to live up to on a daily basis, so you have to represent and follow these yourself. At If U Care Share, people are our priority and I make sure to listen to the people we work with and every single member of the organisation. We always act with honesty and openness and are accountable for our work, believing in the strength of community and treating everyone equally and fairly.

Most of all, we value life – the lives of those we support and the people around them."

Finally, Matthew discussed what he's passionate about seeing change in the sector: 

"We see increased need for our services year on year but do not see this increase in funding and awareness. I’d love for everyone to talk more openly, share with someone they trust if they are feeling down and reach out for help whenever they feel the need to.

Every day we see the impact of suicide, but what you will never truly see is the life-saving impact a conversation, a message or a smile can have on someone’s life. Take care and remember – there is always a way!"

Read more about the work at If U Care Share.

Young Trustee of the Month - Kahvan Bryan

The Young Trustees Movement (YTM) brings together current and aspiring young trustees, employers, and allies to increase the representation of trustees aged 30 and under on charity boards, enhancing the quality of their experience.

We spoke to Kahvan Bryan, one of YTM's trustees.

Kahvan told us a little bit about what his mission is:  

"Young Trustees Movement is all about shifting who holds the power in the Boardroom. Currently, just 1% of charity trustees are 30 or below. We advocate for more young people in decision-making spaces. We champion enabling environments that value the contributions of young people, and we offer training at an individual and Board level to help the whole Board thrive."

We asked Kahvan how he got to where he is today and what his role involves:  

"I arrived at YTM as a first-time Trustee. I’d never done something like this before, but I did have a few years of professional experience, working in Higher Education and a strong track record for leading change around inclusion, so our values aligned well. 

My role is sometimes developing policy and reviewing finances to ensure the sustainability of our Movement, but my favourite part is reflecting on how we make our work meaningful for the young people we engage with. How do we get them closer to being in the Boardroom? 

I played a key role in establishing the 2025-2030 YTM Strategy and phase one of that work is ‘Strengthening the Core’. This means working to our strengths, continuing to spread our message with our monthly Champion Training and regular Community Cafe, connecting people wherever they are to the Movement."

Finally, Kahvan shared some advice for aspiring trustees: 

• "Find mentors: someone recommended YTM to me because they knew I wanted to develop and knew our values aligned.  
• I was put off by some adverts asking for a specific skill. It made me question if I’d actually be of value to any board. YTM didn’t want a specific skill, they wanted lived experience and diversity of thought and provided opportunities to develop the skills along the way. Now I know that I can add value to because I found the right board for me. Yours will be out there. 
• At YTM, we know getting a seat at the table as a young person is only half the battle, don’t be afraid to ask during an interview process, what experience the Board has working with young people and how you can be expected to be inducted, this will tell you a lot about the culture you’re entering."

Read more about the work at Young Trustees Movement.