Strategic Development through the Transform Programme
Live! Cheshire is a small, vibrant, pan-disability charity providing a range of inclusive and fully accessible clubs, services and social activities.
Based in Hoole, Chester, members travel from across Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales to access dynamic sessions and, most importantly, make friends and have fun. The charity has been operating for 30 years. Mary Watt is a first time CEO and has been with Live! for 18 months.
Being a new CEO, Mary was keen to engage in Cheshire Connect’s Transform Programme to really understand where the charity was up to and what changes were needed to secure a sustainable future. Key, immediate challenges were the condition of the premises and general facility management and maintenance. Mary was also keen to access the peer support element of the Transform Programme and the leadership learning sessions.
Cheshire Connect was very pleased to secure an excellent skill donor, Steve Potts, to steer the charity through the business analysis and strategy development phases of Cheshire Connect’s Transform Programme. Steve is a new skill donor who is multi-skilled and very well experienced. One of our regular skill donors, Diane Brown, is supporting the CEO through the mentoring phase to help her through the changes. As the charity has progressed through the Transform Programme, other skill donors have been brought in including Claire Grundy (marketing strategy) and Martin Howlett (mission and values workshop, change management & board support).
Hear is what one of the skill donors had to say:
“Selling my business of 35 years left a void, and I really wanted to try and use some of my knowledge and experience to help others in some way. In stepped Cheshire Connect / Live! and what a journey for me getting to know the charity and the new CEO Mary; it has been both enjoyable and inspiring.
The charity faces a challenging time, but with the CEO’s passion, belief, and vision, I am positive that sharing my experiences can benefit, make a difference, and assist the transformation the charity deserves.
Thank you for the opportunity.”
Steve Potts, Skill Donor
Mary and Steve have made remarkable progress in developing a forward strategy for the charity. From his extensive business experiences, Steve has also been able to support the charity with day- to- day operational issues, facility management, policy up-dates, some HR matters and contract compliance. With the support of the mentoring programme, leadership learning sessions and peer support, Mary is feeling more confident in her role and pleased with the strategy development work. There are now several skill donors working together to implement sections of the strategy.
The programme has given Mary and her strategist the time to identify where the charity is up to, to work out exactly where it needs to be and what it needs to achieve that.
The impact of the new strategy will take some time to come to fruition, as this is definitely a work in progress. Mary, her skill donors and Cheshire Connect are determined to bring about the change needed and to see the charity thrive and continue to support its clients and their everchanging needs.
“The Cheshire Connect Transform Programme has already had an impact on the long-term viability and financial sustainability of Live!
Steve Potts, our skills donor supporting Analysis and Strategic Planning, brings a wealth of experience and business expertise that we would be unable to access otherwise as it is out of our financial reach. His knowledge supplements the skills gap within our skeletal team, plus his supportive approach, generosity of time and positive nature make him the most valuable of critical friends. Working with Steve is an absolute gift at the time when I needed it most. Thank you! “
Mary, CEO Live! Cheshire