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Charity Partner

Growing Pallion Action Group's community impact with Pilotlight 360

Strengthening leadership confidence and powering new impact opportunities.

About the project

Based in Sunderland, Pallion Action Group (PAG) was initially set up by local residents to address the lack of services and projects for residents in the area.

PAG offers social, recreational, digital and educational activities for the whole community. The charity focuses on those hardest to reach and provides inspiring, sustainable projects to help alleviate poverty, grow aspirations and help support those in isolation.

PAG - Pilotlight 360 (Video)

What is it like to participate?

Karen Noble, CEO at Pallion Action Group, reflects on the impact of winning a Weston Charity Award and participating in the Pilotlight 360 programme.

 

What is Pilotlight 360?

Explore the programme

Pilotlight 360 is an intensive 8 month programme bringing together charity leaders and expert business partners.

Through focused exploration and expert coaching, the business experts share their skills to help charities address pressing challenges and strengthen their strategy and governance. In tandem, the business experts develop their professional skills while creating a positive, direct impact.

  • Charities who participate in our Pilotlight 360 programme increase their income by an average of 48% (two years after working with us).

  • Nine out of 10 charity leaders say the Pilotlight 360 programme has a major positive impact on strategic vision.

<p>Contact us to find out more</p>

 

Karen Nobel - CEO - Pallion Action Group

Q: What motivated you to apply for the Weston Charity Awards?

A: After COVID it was clear that there was going to be more pressure and demand on voluntary organisations. PAG was aware of the Weston Charity Awards, and it felt like a really good time to apply.

It was an opportunity to be part of a journey where PAG could get the support to grow the organisation and team in line with the increasing needs of residents.

Q: What impact has participating in Pilotlight 360 had on your charity?

A:  Pilotlight has really changed my life and the programme exceeded expectations. Personally it validated me, gave me confidence and made me realise that the work I do is valuable. Because of that confidence, people I meet with in statutory organisations now take us more seriously.

Throughout the Pilotlight journey, people really validated me and the work I do.

I know now that what I do and the work PAG does is really positive. It’s grown my confidence in being able to speak up on things. My funding pitch is stronger, as well as communicating the social value I bring and the impact it makes.

I also have a clearer understanding of social objectives and how to measure them effectively.
Previously I just thought “great job” and moved on. Now I know how important it is to document KPIs and metrics.

That new confidence has also cascaded down to the team. It’s made me realise I can’t do everything, helping me to build a senior leaders team, distribute responsibility and support them becoming leaders in their own right.

PAG is now also part of committee with the Arthur Rank Foundation. They recognised us as one of five organisations in Sunderland that are leaders in our community and we’re now part of a consortium with a mission to get more community funding for Sunderland. 

A woman and a child prepare vegetables on a table. They smile to the camera and the child is wearing a white chef's hat.

Karen's key takeaways for Pilotlight 360

It’s easy to get caught up in the “real-world”, where everyday there is alway some sort of crisis one of our beneficiaries is going through. Whether it be someone dealing with homelessness, wanting a CV, needing a benefit sanction, a relationship break-up or just wanting to get online; no two days are the same.
 
I can honestly say that if I hadn’t had the help of the business experts, everything would have kept being pushed aside and dealt with later, resulting in longer days and little time at the weekends for myself.

“Since the programme, I have been asked to be a facilitator by a foundation at a national conference - and I wouldn’t have done that before. If you have a leader who is confident, that will show up in the work you do. ”

 

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