Monthly Series on Charity Governance & Resilience
Hosted by Southampton Forward

Southampton Forward was excited to introduce SO: Governance, a monthly online series designed to strengthen governance skills, foster resilience, and enhance impact within Southampton’s non-profit sector.

These 90-minute sessions dived into essential governance topics, offering tools, resources, and expert guidance for organisations looking to thrive. Whether new to charity work or an experienced leader, the series supported participants on their journey to building a strong foundation for their mission.

The final session will take place in person in central Southampton on Wednesday, 28 May, 2025, allowing us to reflect on our learnings and plan future sessions based on participant feedback.

Who Attended?
Anyone involved in or supporting Southampton’s non-profit sector who wanted to deepen their governance knowledge was welcome. Whether part of a charity, social enterprise, or community organisation, this series was designed for them.

FAQs

• Cost: All sessions were free.
• Format: Each session included presentations from guest speakers, followed by a Q&A for interactive discussion.
• Recording: All sessions were recorded and shared by Southampton Forward and Southampton Voluntary Services after the event.

This was a valuable opportunity to strengthen governance foundations and connect with others dedicated to making a positive impact.

Recap of Session 1: Friday, November 29, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM GMT (Online)

Friday, 29 November 2024, 12:00–1:30 PM (Online)

Our first session focused on the core elements that drive a charity’s success—defining vision, strategy, and purpose. Guest speakers shared practical insights and examples:

• Sally Arscott, CEO of Solent Mind – On developing a forward-thinking strategy to better serve the community.
• Matt Salvage, CEO of SoCo Music Trust – On transforming SoCo from a CIC to a charity, and aligning with a charitable purpose.

Moderated by Rob Kurn, CEO of Southampton Voluntary Services.

Watch the session here:

Recap of Session 2: Financial Resilience – Wednesday, January 29, 2025

This session explored how to build financial resilience for charities, with advice on budgeting, income diversification, and sponsorships.

Speakers included:

• Helen Alexander – Budgeting for financial resilience
• Emma Bovey – Diversifying income for fundraising success
• Lou Gardner – Building sponsorship relationships
• Dan Crow – Lessons from diversifying income at ‘a space’ arts

Moderated by Rob Kurn.

Recap of Session 3: Leadership, People, and Culture – Tuesday, February 25, 2025

This session examined how inclusive leadership and governance structures can be created in practice.

Speakers included:

• Zoie Golding MBE – Leadership lessons from Zoie Logic Dance Theatre
• Kristianne Drake (they/them) – Experience of inclusive leadership at In Focus Education & Development CIO

Moderated by Rob Kurn and Claire Gevaux (Southampton Forward).

Recap of Session 4: Risk Wednesday, March 26 · 12 – 1:30pm GMT

This session delved into identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks within the charity and non-profit sector.

Speakers included:

• Rob Francis – Risk analysis from an actuary’s perspective and the role of trustees
• Matt Goode – Insights into managing risk during capital projects

Moderated by Rob Kurn.

Rob Francis In Focus Education Slides

Recap Session 5 – Evaluating Our Impact – Tuesday 29 April 2025

The final online session of the series focused on impact evaluation—how charities and community organisations can better understand and evidence the difference they make.

Led by Lucy Horne, Head of Impact and Insights at Saints Foundation, with chairing by Rob Kurn, the session explored:

• Why impact evaluation is complex and nuanced
• Frameworks and approaches to support effective evaluation
• Lessons learned from across the sector
• How to create a culture of learning and reflection

The session included open discussion and Q&A, with participants sharing their own experiences.

Watch the full recording below.