The show for charity insiders, by charity insiders. Hosts Tim Beynon and Piers Townley tackle the topics that matter for charity staff, fundraisers and supporters.
Game Changer: Why SEND young people miss out on activities - with Tom Mansell
Why are so many young people with special educational needs and disabilities missing out on activities outside school? In episode 54 of The Charity Show, Tim Beynon and Piers Townley talk to Tom Mansell, Senior Grants Manager at John Lyon’s Charity, about Game Changer, the funder’s new research into SEND provision in North and West London. Backed by a survey of 75 organisations and 350 families, it sets out what is holding charities back and what the sector can do about it.
In this episode:
The headline findings: 87% of parents and carers say there isn’t enough provision, and 46% of their children aren’t doing any activities outside of school
Why John Lyon’s Charity chose to listen first, through a year of surveys and in-person focus groups, rather than simply fund more grants
What really stops charities being more inclusive: staffing and resources, plus fear of getting it wrong on language, safety and governance
Why families value honesty about what a charity can and can’t offer over a promise of “welcome to everyone”
Practical first steps for stretched organisations, from sensory resources and social stories to partnerships and referral networks with specialist providers
How the findings are changing the funder’s own grant making, including accepting the cost of inclusive delivery, and what Horniman’s Adventure Playground achieved in year one
Also in this episode, our Small Charity Spotlight shines a light on Towcester Christmas Toy Bank and Cabaret vs Cancer.
Guest links and resources:
John Lyon’s Charity (https://www.jlc.london/)
Game Changer Report (https://www.jlc.london/grants/jlc-extra/game-changer/)
Tom Mansell on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmansell/)
Small Charity Spotlight
Towcester Christmas Toy Bank: www.towcesterchristmastoybank.co.uk (https://www.towcesterchristmastoybank.co.uk/)
Cabaret Vs Cancer: www.cabaretvscancer.co.uk/ (https://www.cabaretvscancer.co.uk/)
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💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK.
This episode is produced by The Good Studio – Creating great content for good causes. From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at www.thegoodstudio.co.uk (http://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk)
5 Oct 2026
AI-generated content in charities: Ethics, trust & transparency - with Emma Bracegirdle
AI-generated content is everywhere in charity comms right now, and most organisations are using it without really understanding how it works or how to be transparent about it.
In episode 53 of The Charity Show, Tim and Piers are joined by Emma Bracegirdle, founder of The Saltways, to unpack new research into how UK charities are actually using AI generated content, and where it's going badly wrong.
In this episode...
Why over half of charities using AI generated content aren't labelling it, and don't understand why they should
The crucial difference between using AI to enhance an image and using it to generate one entirely, and why the EU AI Act treats them the same
How AI models can reproduce harmful stereotypes and "poverty porn" style imagery, and practical prompting techniques to challenge and undo this
Why transparency, consent and updated image release forms are now essential parts of any charity's AI approach
How authentic, unpolished, phone-shot storytelling is becoming charities' best defence against a trust deficit fuelled by AI scepticism
Real examples of AI used well (and badly) in the charity sector, plus where the technology can genuinely save time on admin and research
The conversation also covers The Saltways' first Charity Film Festival, held in Bethnal Green, London, celebrating films made by and for the charity sector on every budget.
Links and resources:
The Saltways: https://thesaltways.com/ (https://thesaltways.com/)
The Saltways Charity Film Festival: https://thesaltways.com/charityfilmfestival/ (https://thesaltways.com/charityfilmfestival/)
This episode's Small Charity Spotlights:
Hastings Furniture Service: https://hfs.org.uk/ (https://hfs.org.uk/)
HFS 100 Homes Project Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hastingsfurnitureservice (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/hastingsfurnitureservice)
Future First: https://www.futurefirst.org.uk/ (https://www.futurefirst.org.uk/)
Get involved:
Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform
Email us at thecharityshowpod@gmail.com (mailto:thecharityshowpod@gmail.com)
Send a voice message to TheCharityShow
Find every link you need: https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow (https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow)
💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK.
This episode is produced by The Good Studio – Creating great content for good causes. From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at www.thegoodstudio.co.uk (http://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk)
14 Sept 2026
The Journalist's Charity: The pressures on journalists, Dickens and Queen Camilla - with CEO James Brindle
James Brindle spent nearly 20 years as a journalist before taking the helm at one of the UK's oldest charities. In this episode, the CEO of the Journalists' Charity joins Tim and Piers to unpack an extraordinary history, one that starts with Charles Dickens in 1864 and now carries the patronage of Queen Camilla. From financial hardship to online abuse, James explains what modern journalism support really looks like.
In this episode...
The Journalists' Charity was founded in 1864 by Charles Dickens, who served as its first chairman, with a royal charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1890
James Brindle's journey from nearly two decades in broadcast journalism, including setting up television channels, to becoming a charity CEO
The realities driving journalists to seek support, from freelance financial instability and redundancy to rising online abuse and mental health pressure
How the charity's "Lockdown Without Journalism" campaign during COVID reconnected the public with the value of the profession and drove tens of thousands of pounds in donations
The newly launched Queen Camilla Future of Journalism Awards, offering cash support, mentoring and recognition to journalists starting their careers
Why pride and the word "charity" itself can be a barrier to journalists asking for help, and how the sector is working to change that
Guest links
The Journalists' Charity: https://journalistscharity.org.uk/ (https://journalistscharity.org.uk/)
James Brindle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbrindleceo/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbrindleceo/)
Get involved:
Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform
Email us at thecharityshowpod@gmail.com (mailto:thecharityshowpod@gmail.com)
Send a voice message to TheCharityShow
Find every link you need: https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow (https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow)
Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show!
💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK.
This episode is produced by The Good Studio – Creating great content for good causes. From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at www.thegoodstudio.co.uk (http://www.thegoodstudio.co.uk)
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Zsuzi Kiss
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