Pick of the Month - November 2026

Written by Lucy Grehan-Bradley, Cause4 Programme Marketing Manager

Welcome to November'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 - Dr Enya Doyle, The Diana Award

The Diana Award is a charity founded on the late Diana, Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change their community, their country and the world.

We spoke to Enya Doyle, one of The Diana Award's trustees.

Enya told us a little bit about what her mission is:  

"Our mission is to empower young people to lead that change through a range of initiatives which unlock their potential, inspire action and create opportunities."

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

"I actually received the Diana Award almost fifteen years ago for my work on peacebuilding through music in the north of Ireland. As a teenager, I could never have imagined the journey from being the first northern Irish recipient of the Courageous Citizen award to becoming a trustee of that very same charity. Everything I have done during that time ties back to my personal commitment to three overlapping themes: accountability, decency and curiosity. Alongside my trustee role, I advise companies of all kinds worldwide on discrimination and harassment prevention. This follows on from my doctorate which explored systemic sexism in music and religion and my ongoing work across the education and youth sectors.

Being a trustee, in all honesty, involves analysing a lot of complex information so that I can ask good questions. I also lead on people and culture matters at Board level and sit on our safeguarding sub-committee. I’m proud to collaborate with and learn from world-class leaders on the Board and to support the brilliant colleagues who work tirelessly behind the scenes to empower and embolden the ideas and voices of young people here in the UK and across the world."

Enya shared some advice for aspiring trustees: 

"There are loads of different styles and ways of effectively carrying out the role. You will work alongside and learn from people you may not otherwise ever professionally interact with. Be open to learning from them. I also cannot stress enough how important The Seven Principles of Public Life are, or how interconnected they are in practice. Accountability is inseverable from integrity. Finally, becoming a trustee is not a decision to take lightly, but that responsibility is so much easier to carry if you care deeply about the work that needs to be done."

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

"Almost a quarter of all changemakers experience some form of threat or online backlash because of their work and one in three changemakers now report experiencing some form of burnout.* As adults, we must not simply read the statistics and headlines, be horrified, and move on. I am committed wholeheartedly to ensuring that young voices are not only heard, but really listened to, and their stories acted upon. I would ask all civil society leaders to commit to the same."

The Virtual Diana Award Ceremony: Taking place at 4pm (GMT) on November 4th, this is an online event and is free to watch on our YouTube channel. The event will showcase the work of young people as we award our 2026 Diana Award recipients.

Read more about the work at The Diana Award.

Charity Leader of the Month - Ellie Simpson, Founder of CP Teens UK

CP Teens UK is a charity that supports young people and adults with Cerebral Palsy and neuro physical disabilities. It provides opportunities for people to connect, make friendships, build confidence and try new experiences through a range of social activities, events and initiatives. 

We spoke to Ellie Simpson, Founder of CP Teens UK.

Ellie told us a little bit about what her mission is:

"Our mission is to provide 'help, hope, inspiration and friendship', and ultimately to make sure that no one feels alone or socially isolated because of their disability. 

Having Cerebral Palsy myself, I know how important it is to feel understood and to have people around you who share similar experiences. For me, it's about creating a welcoming community where people feel included, supported and able to be themselves."

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

"I started CP Teens UK in 2013, when I was 18, following my own experiences of growing up with Cerebral Palsy. I'd experienced social isolation myself, particularly during my teenage years, and I didn't really know many other young people with physical disabilities. I was also quite disheartened by the lack of opportunities available to physically disabled young people. I'd left school with good A Levels but I wasn't sure at that point whether I wanted to go to university. Rather than being supported to explore other options, my school didn’t seem to know what to do with me and concluded that I should just go home and watch daytime television if I wasn’t sure about university and if I didn’t want to go to a specialist college! It was frustrating to feel that those were the only options on offer to me. 

CP Teens UK started very simply on Twitter (now X), with the hope of connecting with others who might be feeling the same way - struggling to fit in, feeling isolated/lonely, and/or struggling to find & access opportunities. There was never a grand plan to start a charity, and I certainly had no idea where it might lead. It just grew naturally over time as more people got involved, and it became clear that there was a genuine need for the friendships, support and opportunities that were developing. One thing gradually led to another, and CP Teens UK evolved alongside the needs of the young people involved. 

My role now is very varied. I run CP Teens UK on a day-to-day basis under a board of trustees and with the help of my PAs. My role involves a bit of everything, from organising activities and events, to health & safety, social media, developing projects, working with other organisations and all the everyday administration that comes with running a charity. 

One of the things I value most is having direct contact with the people we support. I think it's really important to listen to people's experiences and understand what they actually want and need, rather than making assumptions. In many ways, that's how CP Teens UK started, and it's still what guides the work we do today. Seeing the young people enjoying the activities and events, making friends, supporting one another and growing in confidence reminds me of exactly why CP Teens UK started and it's amazing to see; it often doesn't feel real!" 

Ellie shared some advice for aspiring leaders: 

"I would say don't feel that you have to have everything figured out before you start, and don't underestimate what you can achieve by starting small. 

When I first set up CP Teens UK, I was only 18 and had only just left school. I was very under confident, and all I really knew was that there must be other people out there similar to me with similar experiences and how good it would be if we could all connect and get a sense of belonging from it. I've learnt so much as I've gone along, and I'm still learning now. 

I think it's important to stay true to why you started, understand that it’s a marathon and not a sprint, and to not be afraid to ask for help. Surround yourself with good people who understand and share what you’re trying to achieve, keep working at it and accept that things won't always go to plan. 

Most importantly, I don't think leadership is about having all the answers or being the most confident person in the room. It's about listening, having the courage to give things a go, and helping others have a voice." 

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

"I'd really like to see greater recognition and support for smaller, grassroots charities, particularly those that have grown out of real-life experiences. There are so many charities that started around someone's kitchen table, often because they, or someone close to them, have experienced a gap in support and decided to do something about it. They weren't necessarily setting out to run a charity, but saw a genuine need and things grew from there. I think there's something really valuable about that, yet it can be incredibly difficult for these smaller organisations to access the funding, resources and recognition they need. 

I think there's also a lot to be said for charities working more closely together, sharing experiences and supporting one another rather than feeling they're constantly competing for the same resources and/or pots of funding. 

I'd also love to see more emphasis on genuinely listening to the people charities are there to support. Having lived experience and understanding the needs of your community can be incredibly valuable, and I think that should be recognised more widely. 

Ultimately, I'd like to see a charity sector where smaller organisations have the opportunity to thrive, and where more time and energy can be spent supporting people rather than worrying about how to keep everything running."

Read more about the work at CP Teens UK.

Social Entrepreneur of the Month - Birgit Kehrer, Founder and CEO of ChangeKitchen CIC 

ChangeKitchen is a catering social enterprise and Kindness Cafe that began its journey of social impact, food justice, improving life opportunities and cooking up delicious, climate-friendly, plant-based menus in 2010. 

We spoke to Birgit Kehrer, Founder and CEO of ChangeKitchen. 

Birgit told us a little bit about what her vision is and what her role involves:

"I founded ChangeKitchen CIC in 2010 after seeing a real need for supportive routes back into work for people facing multiple labour market barriers. At the time, I was working with Birmingham homeless charity SIFA Fireside, involving service users in gardening and healthy eating sessions. Some were keen to return to work and clearly had skills and passion to offer. 

ChangeKitchen was created to give people second, third or more chances to build a fulfilling working life. From the outset, it was equally important that we operated as sustainably as possible. In 2010, many people looked blankly when I described us as a 'green caterer'; now the idea is far more familiar. We remain a pioneer in climate-friendly catering in the Midlands and have recently gone through the demanding process of B Corp accreditation to demonstrate our social, community and environmental credentials. 

My mission has always been rooted in social and climate justice. I want to use my voice to stand up for people in need and contribute to a society where everyone has access to good-quality, affordable, healthy food. Social and climate justice are closely linked: the people who contribute least to environmental damage are often those who experience its effects most severely. "

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

"I started ChangeKitchen with two part-time employees who had previously experienced homelessness and unemployment. In the early years, I had to train staff while building a sustainable social business, so I wore many hats: developing menus, sourcing ingredients, producing food, training staff and managing finance, marketing, HR and sales. There were plenty of ups and downs, and being the sole leader could be lonely. 

Today, I have a strong team around me, including our General Manager Tommy, Kitchen Manager Megan, our kitchen team, Marketing Lead Sallie and external finance support. That means I can focus much more on strategy, winning new clients, building stakeholder relationships and securing funding for our social impact work. 

My role is ultimately about supporting growth, developing new ideas and driving innovation. Recent examples include our ReadyMeals4Good™ range, which won a Good Food Award this spring, and Chutney For Change, which we produce for Ethstat's corporate hampers. 

We are also increasing our focus on helping young people develop employability skills. A small pilot launched in January has shown clear demand, and we hope to build this into a long-term offer for young people across the Midlands and become a trusted organisation for parents and community groups to refer them to."

Birgit shared some advice for aspiring leaders: 

"Lots of things! I believe you need a combination of the following: 

• Follow your passion. 
• Do your research before starting out. 
• Understand your finances, particularly cashflow. 
• Work with others, not against them. 
• Find ways to switch off and look after yourself so you can keep going. 
• Tenacity, tenacity, tenacity - don't give up. "

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

"The government recently issued Procurement Policy Note 026 (PPN 026), updating the Social Value Model for central government procurement. Like Social Enterprise UK, I welcome the increase in minimum social value weightings from 10% to 20% for contracts above £5 million. However, many social enterprises trade with government at much lower contract values, and social value requirements no longer strictly apply to contracts below £1 million. 

I am also concerned that the new model no longer includes a mechanism encouraging direct government suppliers to subcontract to social enterprises, and that its definition of social value has narrowed to two themes: Good Jobs and Skills. Social Enterprise UK and its members have raised these concerns with government and are awaiting accompanying guidance. 

My worry is that these changes could also influence how corporates approach social value and risk undoing some of the progress made over the past 15 years. I would like to see procurement continue to recognise the wider social and environmental contribution that social enterprises can make." 

Read more about the work at ChangeKitchen. 

Fellow of the Month - Jack Hartshorn, Head of Fundraising at Orchestras for All 

Orchestras For All is a national charity that uses music to support young people facing significant barriers. 

We spoke to Jack, Head of Fundraising at Orchestras for All about his role and his experience so far as a fellow.  

As Head of Communications Fundraising, Jack leads a team of four, overseeing all aspects of fundraising (NPO, Trusts and Foundations, Individuals, Corporates and a bit of Orchestra Tax Relief) as well as marketing and comms. This is his first dedicated fundraising role, but he has been fundraising by necessity for the last 10 years or so. 

Given the context of the UK right now, we asked Jack what the key opportunities for his organisation are:  

"When we came across the building in 2021 it was half abandoned and in need of serious attention. Fast forward to 2025 and we had created a thriving community arts centre, wedding and events venue, office space business and a cafe that lost money every month! We managed to raise over £1m in grants during my time there, and I knew that honing my skills in fundraising was where I wanted to go next.

I have brought my natural entrepreneurial impatience to Orchestras For All's fundraising, starting a number of new areas of work simultaneously when I joined in 2025. Throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks is probably the sort of thing we're advised not to do, but in such a competitive climate, and with such uncertainty, its worked well for us to diversify our funding streams and invest in new opportunities, most of which are already paying dividends."

We asked Jack what he is most looking forward to as part of the Fellowship Programme:  

"I'm super excited to be part of the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellowship - there's nothing like trading war stories with fellow fundraisers, and it's great to put some academic theory behind something that can often be left to instinct!"

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

"One thing I'm concerned about within the sector is the changes we're seeing with Trusts and Foundations becoming much more relationships focussed - rather than open, public and fair. So many are now 'invitation only', which certainly saves them a headache, but I worry will perpetuate some of the issues around power and influence of a chosen few well connected people and demographics. Time will tell."

Read more about the work at Orchestras for All.