Across eight monthly meetings, a charity and four senior business leaders – Pilotlighters – undertake an intensive strategic coaching engagement to increase resilience for the organisation.
A comprehensive review
In the first two months of this programme, Pilotlighters spend time exploring the charity’s current reality across purpose & strategy, leadership & governance, impact, finance, and operations. This part of the programme also includes a visit to the charity’s headquarters for the Pilotlighters to further understand the charity’s impact. The team get clear on the challenges the charity is facing and learn about the opportunities on the horizon. While the programme works with one key contact at the charity - typically the CEO or Manager, depending on the organisation type - Pilotlight 360 involves trustees and other senior staff to get maximum understanding and maximum buy-in to the process.
After this initial information-gathering period, the group collectively sets two goals for the remainder of the project, related to improving the strategic resilience of the charity. These are specific to the charity, but might include developing a strategy or business planning, supporting financial planning, helping with a restructure or reviewing governance arrangements.
For the remainder of the programme, work is focused on achieving these aims through the strategic coaching support of the Pilotlighters. The charity leader can expect to be assigned actions from each meeting, which are then reviewed at the subsequent meeting(s). The Pilotlight Project Manager arranges regular check-ins with the charity throughout, supporting them to achieve the objectives and providing a conduit with the Pilotlighters where appropriate.
Flexible but structured
Pilotlight 360 is designed to be flexible to a charity’s needs, but always covers a period of information gathering, followed by collective objective setting and collaborative action to achieve those goals. Each step of the way, the process is managed by a Pilotlight Project Manager, who facilitates meetings and keeps the team focused on the agreed goals.
Outcomes for the charities vary depending on the project, but some of the most commonly reported include an increase in income and reach, more effective staff and boards, and improved confidence and leadership skills in the charity leader.
New perspectives
Through this programme, charities get an outside perspective on their work. Frequent feedback from charities includes:
- Pilotlight 360 gives space to think differently about how to approach challenges in a safe and low risk space
- The Pilotlighters work as supportive coaches who engage with the charity and are invested in it's work
- The programme is a sounding board to test thoughts and ideas, and with the coaching approach helps unpack risks and coax out innovation
- The variety of tools and resources Pilotlighters bring from their own career experience
The charity leaders build a relationship with the Pilotlighters over time, so they can have open and frank conversations with people there to support them.
As teams are drawn from multiple organisations and backgrounds, the Pilotlighters work with people they would otherwise not have the opportunity to, working collaboratively on shared, real-life goals.
This programme is typically delivered through a combination of in-person and virtual meetings.
We are currently closed for applications from charities and social enterprises for this programme. For more information click here.
Case Studies
Shaping a brighter future for families in South Yorkshire
Buzz offers comprehensive support to families facing conflict and separation in South Yorkshire and has recently extended its services to a broader area in Yorkshire.
Finding the balance for Nepacs
Amanda Lacey, CEO of Nepacs reflects on the impact winning the Weston Charity Awards and Pilotlight 360 has had on the charity’s strategy going forwards.
SELFA's seven-year triumph
In 2016 SELFA Children's Charity were recipients of a Weston Charity Award, which not only supported the organisation with a core grant of £6,500 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, but also began a period of transformation through the Pilotlight 360 programme.
Soaring high for Eagle’s Nest Project
Eagle’s Nest Project is a charity set up to work with young people aged 11-18 that are struggling to engage in mainstream education, often as a result of early childhood trauma. It offers alternative education solutions that build confidence and to equip them for more positive engagement in education and society moving forwards.
Helping Interplay finish the financial year in surplus
"The Pilotlighters had a gentle way of challenging and pushing us all. Their role in giving us focus has been huge. We couldn’t see a future, but now we feel positive."
Growing support for carers both locally and nationally
When we worked with Kathy Verges in 2010, she was CEO at Crossroads Care Havering, which had a turnover of around £600k. Kathy retired as Chief Officer in January 2022. After a series of mergers Kathy led the charity on to re-brand to create TuVida, which had national reach and a turnover of £14m. She reflects on her work with Pilotlight.
Empowering The Super Power Agency to grow
"The Pilotlight 360 programme was great in helping us focus more on what we wanted, and the extra brains to help us think through our plans were immensely helpful. If you need help thinking through a strategy, programme or course of action, the Pilotlight 360 programme is for you."
Growing TLC Talk Listen Change into a regional charity
TLC: Talk, Listen, Change came to Pilotlight in 2019 with ambitions and plans for the future. After completing the Pilotlight 360, the organisation has grown quicker than originally anticipated and the CEO, Michelle Hill, credits some of that to the power of Pilotlight.
How Pilotlight 360 supported Wyre Forest Nightstop through COVID
"The support from Pilotlight, along with the durability of our team and their willingness to adapt, has made all the difference to being able to manage COVID-19. We’ve continued to provide services effectively to our beneficiaries throughout."
How Pilotlight 360 supported The Wish Centre through COVID
"Taking part in the Pilotlight 360 was extremely useful and we were very fortunate to have Pilotlighters supporting us who were committed to helping us develop as an organisation."
Nurturing Cardiff City FC Community Foundation to improve operations
"The support over the last year has been invaluable. The sessions have helped me identify some key operational improvements and commit to implementing those changes. Improvements I’m confident will make a huge difference to our performance and ultimately benefit our beneficiaries."