NPC event attendees

What else is on at NPC Ignites?

By Will Hanford-Spira 6 September 2021 3 minute read

Our theme for this year’s NPC Ignites is Rethink, Rebuild. With an opening presentation from Professor Michael Marmot, we’ll be debating the big themes facing the charity and philanthropy sectors as we emerge from the pandemic and look to rebuild—including social inequality, the climate crisis, and the government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda.

Alongside our big presentations and panel debates, we’re also hosting a series of breakout sessions, looking in detail at some of the more specific challenges we face and the approaches being developed to help us overcome them. Here’s a few sessions that we’re especially looking forward to. Early bird discounts for our annual conference end on 10 September, so book now to enjoy 25% off!

Using data to understand the external and internal environment

Most of us have spent the last year and a half adapting to massive change. It has often been rapid and making choices has felt like a split-second decision instead of a rational judgement. To plan anything, you need to assess the current situation. But how do you do this when the situation keeps changing?

Data can help you identify what’s changed, where, how much, and what effect this will have.

By exploring these questions, you can prioritise where your work is most needed, and where you’re making an impact. You can also use data to test your assumptions. Reviewing your assumptions will stop you getting stuck advocating for or delivering a solution that has been overtaken by events and no longer makes the impact it once did.

In this breakout session on data, NPC’s Rosario Piazza, Principal: Data, will share how you can use data approaches like situation analysis to understand changing health and socio-economic contexts, and you’ll hear from front-line charities who have used these approaches in their own work. You can listen to Rosario talk about how data can open up new models of tracking philanthropic impact in this episode of Brevio’s ‘How we Innovate’ podcast.

Open philanthropy

Can philanthropy ever be open and inclusive? It may sound paradoxical. After all, philanthropy involves harnessing private wealth for societal benefit. But many foundations and philanthropists are now wrestling with how they can be more inclusive—how they can be part of the solution rather than the problem when it comes to a lack of diversity and inclusion in society’s power structures.

This may lead towards a radically different future, in which the power structures of philanthropy are turned inside out and upside down. What could this look like?

Join our Director of Innovation and Development, Tris Lumley, to explore what opportunities there are to increase transparency and inclusion, while addressing questions about power and control; how greater openness in philanthropy can improve how resources are used; and how grant-makers can rethink all of their activities to be more open. We’ll be unpacking the dynamics of openness as well as the risks and challenges. Read more about our work on open philanthropy on NPC Labs.

Trauma-informed approaches

Trauma-informed approaches are ways of supporting individuals whereby you recognise and respond to specific needs they may have as a result of past or ongoing trauma. Many people that charities work with may have lost loved ones to covid or had a severe case of covid themselves. During the pandemic, we have seen an increase in domestic violence. It’s vital therefore that ‘trauma-informed’ does not becomes just another buzzword.

Trauma informed approaches are about recognising and responding to trauma, providing safe environments, recognising people’s strengths, building empowering relationships, and promoting equality of access. Join Katie Boswell, our Associate Director: Strategy and Leadership, to learn how to incorporate trauma-informed approaches into your work. You can read our guide to trauma-informed approaches here.

Book before 10 September for 25% off

Alongside these sessions, we’ve also got breakouts on being a progressive leader, systems leadership, and what shifting political and public attitudes mean for charities. We’re currently offering a 25% early bird discount, so book now to avoid missing out! You can read the full programme and book tickets here.

We also have a bursary scheme, supported by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, for small charities, ethnic minority charities of all sizes and ethnic minority representatives from charities of all sizes. Bursary spaces are offered on a first come, first served basis. To apply, please contact our events team.

Alongside big presentations and panel debates, #NPCIgnites 2021 will include a series of breakout sessions on solutions to some of the social sector's biggest challenges. Plus, book before 10 September for 25% off: Click To Tweet

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