Sponsored content: Katie Turner from IVAR on free support sessions on how to cope during the crisis.

Since 1 April 2020, over 400 charity leaders have joined our weekly peer support sessions.

Leaders based across the UK, working in different fields from migration to mental health, and with organisations of varying size. The unifying question for all has been: how do we respond to the Covid-19 crisis?

We set these spaces up as an opportunity for leaders to share whatever was on their mind – and to get some support; both from each other and from funders. In many groups, people offer each other practical advice for how to cope:

• Actively manage staff and volunteer welfare, by encouraging them to take some time off; build self-care into the working day; and find opportunities for social connection.
• Setting boundaries: Continuity of service provision is the intended goal for most organisations, along with responding to the changing needs of their beneficiaries. However, leaders are trying to set clear parameters to ensure they do not step too far away from their original mission, and that they have the appropriate capacity and skills to deliver: ‘Focus on what you’re good at, and do as much of it as you can’.
• Scenario planning: As things remain unclear and are constantly changing, many leaders are turning to scenario planning as a way of fulfilling their dual role of strategist and visionary. This ensures that long-term implications are being acknowledged without committing to a particular course of action, continuing to: ‘take each day as it comes’.
• Listening: Some are investing time in actively listening to their beneficiaries, either through specific surveys or ad hoc interactions. This intelligence is being used to help shape organisations’ own responses as well as to ‘actually see what’s happening so that we have some data we can go back to government with … and say “some of the solutions you need to put in place are xyz”’.
• Talking to funders: Charity leaders are having honest, open conversations with funders about what can and can’t be delivered, and what impact this will have on outcomes for existing grants and contracts. While much of this has been initiated and enabled by funders themselves, it feels important to note the courage and clarity it requires from charity leaders to be able to make these decisions, and to articulate what is possible under extreme pressure.

You can join one of our free 90 minute zoom sessions for up to 12 charity leaders at a time: ‘It’s good for mental wellbeing and to have the opportunity to talk and share with others in similar situations.’ You’ll hear how others are adapting: ‘I am able to share things that I can’t share with my Chair or staff’.

Through these sessions, we’re building our understanding of the live situation in the sector – and calling for funders to respond. So, as well as a safe space to share what’s on your mind, these calls provide an opportunity to influence funder practice. You can see examples of this in our briefing series – but rest assured that we won’t share anything without your consent.

Dates are available to March 2021, and groups can choose to continue meeting on a six-weekly basis. Sign up here.

With thanks to our funders: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and The Tudor Trust.

Katie Turner is deputy head of research at IVAR.