Monthly Series on Charity Governance & Resilience
Hosted by Southampton Forward

Southampton Forward is 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 will dive into essential governance topics, offering tools, resources, and expert guidance for organisations looking to thrive. Whether you’re new to charity work or an experienced leader, this series will support your journey to building a strong foundation for your mission.

Next Session: Session 4: Managing Risk – Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Future Sessions

SO: Governance will continue with monthly sessions covering a range of topics essential to effective governance and organisational resilience:

• Session 5: Compliance and Information Management – Tuesday, 29 April 2025

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 Should Attend?
Anyone involved in or supporting Southampton’s non-profit sector who wants to deepen their governance knowledge is welcome. Whether you’re part of a charity, social enterprise, or community organization, this series is for you!

FAQs

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

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

Our November session, “Governance & Resilience: Strategy and Purpose,” focusses on the core elements that drive a charity’s success—defining your organisation’s vision, strategy, and purpose. Our guest speakers will provide practical insights, share real-life examples, and answer your questions:

• Sally Arscott, CEO of Solent Mind – Discusses how Solent Mind has developed a forward-thinking strategy to better serve the community. Sally brings over 25 years in the voluntary sector and is dedicated to empowering local people and championing sustainable change through collaboration.
• Matt Salvage, CEO of SoCo Music Trust – Shares his journey in transforming SoCo from a Community Interest Company to a registered charity, discussing the process and benefits of aligning with a charitable purpose. Matt’s commitment to accessible music-making has reshaped SoCo’s mission, bringing music to individuals facing challenging circumstances.

This session will be moderated by Rob Kurn, CEO of Southampton Voluntary Services.

Agenda:

• 12:00 PM – Introduction and Welcome
• 12:15 PM – Keynote with Sally Arscott: “Purpose & Strategy in Governance”
• 12:45 PM – Keynote with Matt Salvage: “Transitioning from CIC to Charity”
• 1:15 PM – Q&A Session with All Speakers

Watch the session here:

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

Session 2 of SO: Governance explored how to build resilience, with a special focus on financial resilience for charities.

Gain practical advice and insights from expert speakers:

• Helen Alexander, Director of Finance, Southampton Forward: Budgeting for financial resilience.
• Emma Bovey, Head of Development, Southampton Forward: Diversifying income for fundraising success.
• Lou Gardner, Charity-business connections expert: Building sponsorship relationships.
• Dan Crow, Director of ‘a space’ arts: Lessons learned from diversifying income streams.

Moderated by Rob Kurn, CEO of Southampton Voluntary Services.

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

Session 3 looks at how can we create truly inclusive leadership and governance structures? In our next free online session, we’ll explore what leading with inclusivity and resilience means.

Speakers:

Zoie Golding MBE – Artistic Director & CEO

Kristianne Drake (they/them) – Founder, In Focus Education & Development CIO

12.00 – 12.05 Welcome and introductions Rob Kurn, CEO Southampton Voluntary Services Claire Gevaux, Director, Southampton Forward

12.05-12.10 What is leadership? (RK)

12.10-12.25 Zoie Golding: leadership in Zoie Logic, lessons learned

12.25 -12.40 Q&A

12.40-12.55 Kristianne Drake: experience of inclusive leadership at In Focus Education

12.55-13.05 Q&A and discussion

13.05 -13.15 Next session and evaluation

13.30 Ends