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Charity Partner

Building high impact strategy for The Hinge Centre

Strengthening governance and strategic planning through the Pilotlight 360 programme.

About the project

The Hinge Centre is a charity based in Bridlington providing support, guidance, services and opportunities to those facing social and financial deprivation.

In 2024 the charity won a Weston Charity Award, receiving an unrestricted grant and a year of strategic support via the Pilotlight 360 programme.

The Hinge Centre Pilotlight 360 (Video)

What is it like to participate?

Chief Executive Officer of The Hinge Centre, Jo Sanders-Potts, shares her thoughts on how taking part in Pilotlight 360 has empowered the charity and supported her own growth as a leader.

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>

 

Jo Sanders Potts - CEO - The Hinge Centre

Q: What motivated you to apply for the Pilotlight 360 programme?

A: We were lucky enough to receive the Pilotlight 360 programme when we won a Weston Charity Award.

I knew the programme was part of the winners package and I was hopeful that we would be one of the lucky charities to receive the support.

As a small charity, we don’t have access to high level strategic support, so I knew the opportunity to work with experienced business leaders would bring real value.

Q: What was the main challenge you wanted to address through the programme?

A:  The challenges we addressed during the programme were strengthening our board of trustees and creating a clear strategic plan for the charity.

As a busy charity we don’t often get the time to step away from the day to day delivery and sit down to empty our heads of all the strategic plans. The Pilotlight 360 programme gave us the dedicated time to do this. 

One of the biggest highlights was having the chance to work closely with the business experts who were volunteering their time. Their experience, insight and respectful challenging, changed our ways of thinking in a supportive way and led to real change.

Another highlight was simply having the dedicated time and space to step back from the fire fighting and think strategically. As a small, busy charity, we rarely get that opportunity. The programme created a safe, focused environment where we could reflect, plan and make decisions that will shape our future.

 

Mindful Men Beach - The Hinge Centre

Q: What were the key outcomes for the charity?

A: Following the programme, we now have a clear trustee recruitment path and strong governance and procedures in place to ensure the board remains solid and effective.

We have also developed a strategic plan that gives us direction and helps us prioritise our work as well as a working risk register that is now a rolling item on our trustee meeting agendas.

“The programme helped me to become a stronger, more confident leader of an ever changing organisation. It gave me the space to step back from the day to day pressures and think more strategically. It helped me trust my own judgement and become confident in my own abilities.”

 

Q: What’s the one thing you would say to a charity leader considering taking part in Pilotlight 360?

A:  I would say…. absolutely do it! The Pilotlight 360 programme gives you the rare chance to step back from the day to day and get honest, supportive guidance from people who genuinely want to help your charity grow.

It is tough and will challenge your thinking but the end result is definitely worth it. 

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