Post by Rushab Shah 🐝

It was a pleasure to join the Livery Committee Charity Chairs Group (LCCG) earlier this week at the Drapers' Company’s Hall to explore how philanthropists should be “Prioritising Today’s Societal Challenges” It was great to hear from Saskia Konynenburg at NCVO outlining the financial strain, rising demand and the reality that 80 percent of charities operate under £100k and Dr Haseeb Shabbir from the Bayes Centre for Charity Effectiveness reminding us that societal challenges are interconnected and require collective learning… the tone was honest, citing the importance oc cpacity and resilience across the sector are stretched. Sufina Ahmad MBE of the John Ellerman Foundation spoke about embracing paradox. Stability and innovation, trust based grant making and funding that builds community power rather than extracts it. Rebecca Roberts at City Bridge Foundation reinforced the need to focus on equity, power and rights, along with long term investment practices to provide stability the sector needs. I also loved the candor from Revd Nick Mottershead FCA of GenerosCity (incl City of London Hygiene Bank) who grounded the discussion in dignity and resilience and Bronek Masojada drawing on his work across East End Community Foundation and beyond, reminding us that system change, targeted intervention and ad hoc support all have a place… but continuity of focus is what sustains impact. Big thank you to Julia Sibley MBE and Hilary Lindsay for their continued work and I look forward to joining them and the wider City of London Corporation and Livery Committee Charity Chairs Group conference later today at the Ironmongers'​ Hall. #UnlockPotential #TechForGood #THRIVE #OneHiveAtATime #BeeTheChange #LCCG2026 #sharingandlearning