Willow Charity Consulting
I help charities manage crises, plan effectively and achieve their ambitions.
From the smallest, voluntary led teams to large, complex and international charities, I help charities to improve their charitable governance, strategic planning, impact and organisational effectiveness. I am skilled at conducting health checks and governance reviews, enabling charities to identify and achieve the next step in their development. I also work with Boards and leaders to resolve crises, and to support their staff teams with overcoming cultural problems.
I centre people across all my work – focussing on listening first, then working to secure hearts and minds to the changes needed. I know what it’s like running a charity on the ground, facing funding difficulties, staff conflict and turnover, and the challenges of service delivery. I’ve been the CEO of seven charities across eight leadership appointments, and have led staff teams through periods of change and crisis to achieve transformational success. I also know how worrying it can be to spend hard-won charity funding on a consultant, and I'm determined to always offer value for money.
I also have direct experience on both sides of the table, having been a Trustee before including as Vice-Chair of ActionAid UK. I understand how difficult the role can be, and how easily conflict can arise between the two 'sides'.
I can tailor my services to fit your unique needs and budget, and my work includes:
My clients range from the smallest volunteer teams to national and international charities, but the majority have incomes between £250,000-£2 million.
My leadership roles include at the Fawcett Society, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, the Gloucestershire Deaf Association, the Bobath Centre for Cerebral Palsy, and the Shannon Trust.
Other current and former clients include: JRCT, Brook, NAPAC, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Headway, Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Project Mama, The Litchfield Garrick Theatre, IPWSO, Galop, The Arboricultural Association, Music in Hospitals & Care, PHCUK, Together Now, Young People First (Midlands), the Harbour Project for Swindon Asylum Seekers and Refugees, Beyond the Classroom, the British & Foreign School Society, Educaid Sierra Leone... and many more.
MBA, Cranfield University (due for completion in June 2025).
Level 7 Diploma in Professional Consulting, Chartered Management Institute
Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Centre, Bolton University
Masters of International Affairs with merit, Australian National University
Graduate Diploma Legal Practice with merit, Australian National University
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) University of Queensland
Bachelor of Laws (International Law) (Hons 1), (top 1%), University of Queensland
Recent experience supporting small-to-medium charities with cost-effective, high impact advice and support includes:
Interim CEO roles (the Fawcett Society, the Shannon Trust, the Bobath Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, and more)
Crisis advice and support, including restructures (Maternal Mental Health Alliance, Mindfulness in Schools Project, Young People First (Midlands), the Harbour Project)
Comprehensive organisational strength reviews for small-to-medium charities (Project Mama, Lincolnshire Rivers Trust, The Nottingham Narrowboat Project, Educaid Sierra Leone, Young People First (Midlands), Voluntary Action (South West Surrey), Beyond the Classroom)
Governance Reviews (JRCT, Litchfield Garrick Theatre, Galop)
Strategic planning including Theories of Change and Away Day facilitation (Project Mama, Music in Hospitals & Care, Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Together Now, Staffordshire Sight Loss, the Harbour Project for Swindon Asylum Seekers and Refugees)
Trustee training and advice, Trustee policies (BelEve, the Kids Network, Muslim Welfare Association of Sutton)
Constitutional updates and support (The Arboricultural Association, Muslim Welfare Association of Sutton)
Project and programme design and evaluation (Africa on the Ball, Together Now, Haringey CAB)
Funder grants review and advice (Richmond Parish Lands Charity, Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, British & Foreign School Society, Education and Training Trust of the CII)