Skills for a Fast Changing World- with the Cranfield Trust and their Patron HRH Princess Anne

What an amazing opportunity and experience! As an extension of the success of our project with the Cranfield Trust, Christine Thomas our CEO attended their event at the Freemason's Hall, Great Queen Street in London on the 6th December 2023, with their Patron HRH Princess Anne.

An Historic Building

Having been to Covent Garden on many occasions – I had seen the Freemason's Hall but thought it was a war memorial and had not made the connections to it being a grand hall. Having looked into the history of the building – it is not just a hall. it is in fact a most fabulous memorial of the First World War. The art décor and the grand halls certainly do the memories of the soldiers justice.

Skills for a Fast Changing World

The Cranfield Trust Event was entitled, Charity Management Matters: Skills for a Fast Changing World and was as series of panel contributions linked to the current issues that charities face in what is a very challenging social and economic environment.

Is Artificial Intelligence a Threat?

One of the topics was Artificial Intelligence – from a literary perspective – particularly George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, the manipulation of the masses by the minority has always served as their warning to us all. In the SMART phone era, we are way beyond concerns about surveillance – that ship has well and truly sailed. An interesting analogy was presented to us, and that was  the comparison of AI with jam. Jam enhances certain food but is nowhere near a culinary success in isolation. A reassuringly simple way of explaining to the masses how AI is not as much of a threat as many perceive. I am sure George Orwell would have approved of such a thoughtful and simple analogy.

How can charities move forward?

Some of the suggested skills we need to move forward in the charity sector:

• Better training for charity leaders
• Using charity leaders to support business leaders- we have lessons that would support improvement in business
• Funds be made available for training within grants – it is too difficult to fund because unrestricted funds are so precious.
• Articulate true values when training is offered for free – too often it is perceived as inadequate, if it free, and this is nt the case.
• Increase support in planning for equality, diversity and inclusion

Many CEOs agree - charities must take advantage of the opportunities f support made available to them.

Patron of the Cranfield Trust, HRH Princess Anne

Princess Anne made some very sensible suggestions for moving forward – my take away from her speech was her plea to ensure that charities are not replicating what others already do. She urged people to thorough research what is needed in the sector. She also made some very sensible suggestions about the need for all young people to be involved in meaningful volunteering experiences.

A Privilege

Overall, it was a real privilege to be at the. It was a great opportunity to meet new people and widen our network, it was also great to met people face to face, including the Cranfield Trust itself, as well as charity funders, and other CEOs. We have received some fabulous support from the Cranfield Trust, through the Durham Masonic foundation, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them over the coming years by taking advantage of their fabulous training initiatives.

Next Steps

At the event, one of the questions to the panel was about getting young people engaged within the charity sector. This was my opportunity to contribute and share how successful Building Self- Belief is in harnessing and encouraging young people to utilise their innumerable talents. In response to my comments Amanda Tincknell CBE invited me to write a blog for the Cranfield Trust as a means of supporting other charities in the recruitment of young people; both to work in charities and to volunteer. I will certainly take her up on this offer. Watch this space!