Joe Lepper

Somerset, United Kingdom

Joe Lepper has more than 20 years journalism experience. Clients include @CharityTimes @CharityDigiOrg @Cypnow. Podcasts @FFScout_Joe

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Articles

A guide to inclusive innovation

1 week ago | charitydigital.org.uk | Mary Wessel |Kellie E. Smith |Joe Lepper |Laura Stanley

Charities are keen to innovate, finding new ways to achieve their missions using the available resources. Introducing new methods, ideas, and technologies, it’s possible to deliver more effective services, to do more with less, and achieve so much more than was previously considered possible. Digital innovation can be important for charities to tackle the challenges and opportunities of today’s world. But it also has a downside: it can risk leaving people behind.
Regulator to probe arts charity’s ‘long-term financial viability’

1 week ago | charitytimes.com | Joe Lepper

The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into an arts and education charity amid concerns around its long-term financial viability. The regulator has been involved with the charity since last year around its plans to sell its central London base, as well as wider concerns around its finances and management.
Charity body raises AI human rights fears under Labour government

1 week ago | charitytimes.com | Joe Lepper

Despite a change of government ‘little has changed for our civic space’ says Bond, which is concerned by continuing curbs on protests as well as emerging threats from artificial intelligence (AI). The NGO body notes there has been a “change in tone” towards the charity sector by the Labour administration “but few policy changes”. It is also concerned that curbs on protests remain, with climate protestors receiving longer sentences and stricter penalties.
Housing Association offers £5,000 grants to charities to mark 125th anniversary

1 week ago | bettersociety.net | Joe Lepper

Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of social housing and new homes organisation Clarion Housing Group, has launched a new funding programme to mark its 125th anniversary. On offer are £5,000 to charities that improve communities, such as art projects, murals, gardening clubs and social inclusion initiatives. The organisation launched in 1900 when its first social housing was built in London.
How charities can navigate local government reorganisation

1 week ago | charitydigital.org.uk | Joe Lepper |Mary Wessel |Kellie E. Smith |Laura Stanley

The UK’s network of local councils is being transformed beyond recognition through reform being driven through by central government. Ministers in the Labour administration, which was elected in 2024, wants local government to move away from its familiar two-tier council set up. This traditionally sees county councils oversee county wide services such as social care, meanwhile district councils run more localised provision, such as refuse collection and leisure facilities.
Council could slash one in 10 jobs

2 weeks ago | localgov.co.uk | Joe Lepper

More than one in ten jobs could be lost at Croydon LBC as it looks to tackle its £1.4bn debt. The council's debt stems from a combination of risky financial decisions, governance failures and external pressures. Visit The MJ (£) to continue reading. Christina McAnea, general secretary of UNISON, tells LocalGov.co.uk what the sector’s biggest union hopes to see from the next government.
'More to do' on diversity in DCS roles

2 weeks ago | localgov.co.uk | Joe Lepper

Diversity among children’s services chiefs has improved over the last year, but ‘there is still more to do’ to make the role ‘visibly inclusive’, the Association of Directors of Children Services (ADCS) has said. Its latest figures showed that the proportion of directors of children's services (DCSs) identifying as Black increased from 2% in 2023 to 5% in 2024, just above the national average for the UK's Black population of 3.7% according to the 2021-22 census.
Reform run councils’ ‘anti woke agenda’ could be a ‘serious concern’ for charities

2 weeks ago | charitytimes.com | Joe Lepper

Charities are being warned of challenges ahead in engaging with local authorities now run by Reform UK due to the right-wing party’s ‘anti-woke’ agenda. The warning has been made by James Somerville, head of policy at think tank New Philanthropy Capital (NPC), who said that “echoes of the anti-woke, anti-DEI agenda that we have seen in the US have come through strongly from Reform UK”.
Admiral raises £1m through its royal charity partnership

2 weeks ago | bettersociety.net | Joe Lepper

Financial services firm Admiral has raised more than £1m for its charity partner the King’s Trust over the last 12 years. The charity, which was formerly called The Prince’s Trust, was set up by King Charles almost 50 years ago when he was the Prince of Wales. Each year through the partnership a group of Admiral staff take part in its Million Makers fundraising challenge, where they use their entrepreneurial skills to raise funds through activities such as fitness challenges and prize draws.
Research finds ‘long-lasting financial benefits’ of Sure Start - CYP Now

2 weeks ago | cypnow.co.uk | Joe Lepper

The think tank’s report found that the savings were through improved health and educational attainment, reduced school absences and better support for children with less severe special educational needs and disabilities. However, it also found that Sure Start “was not a silver bullet” and had little impact on support for children with disabilities in need of more intensive support, those in care and young people involved in the criminal justice system.