Feeling festive

Weekly reflection

It's here, and I for one have been trying extra hard to embrace feeling festive this year, to not feel overwhelmed at all the extra "stuff" to do, to lean in positivity to the festive season.

Having or producing happy and enjoyable feelings suitable for a festival or other special occasion

It has been a difficult few years for many personally, but particularly in our ever-dynamic and shifting context of work. Ways of working, what work is and should be is going through a seismic shift in every sector. Across the charity sector, rising inflation and interest rates ultimately has a negative impact on individual and corporate donor giving, coupled with a shift in how organisations can be best supported.

We deeply need the happiness that this festive season can foster to give us energy for new beginnings and positive change we all hope to manifest in 2023. I deeply believe the need for more innovative philanthropy has never been greater, disruption and bravery to do things differently and find new ways of supporting a sector that ultimately holds our societal systems together.

People to celebrate

Bath Womens Fund

I really enjoyed the Bath Women's Fund gathering last week, what a location to be at the Holburne Museum in Bath, AND to have a chance to explore the galleries after dark! Such a treat and reminded me deeply of my earlier journey in life through the world of museums and art collections. Seems a lifetime ago I was behind the scenes working at the National Museum of American Art in Washington!! It was magic.

Anyway, to the point of a fabulous evening as always hosted by Emma Beeston and Isobel Michael , the Bath Womens Fund evenings are a wonderful way to learn about community initiatives but also to meet others across the community. The basic principle being we pool our monthly donations to be able to donate a grant every year to charities supporting women and girls, last year awarding SARSAS (Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support) a main grant of ￡15,000. That is community. ??

Tech for Good South West - Exeter Relaunch

A great?Tech for Good Exeter relaunch event?with the fab team Third Sector Design and?Michael McAndrew, join our LinkedIn group for tech for good and have a read of Michael's reflections on the session.

Great to also see Vipul Patel and finding out about the upcoming launch of Spaice, a sustainable retail initiative, Paul White and the launch of a community led wellbeing development through connecting digital services, Kate Weiler and the launch of Exeter Connection; a peer to peer learning journey for curious folk looking for community and connection in Exeter, join the community!

Are you local to Exeter in Devon? Looking for something to fire up 2023? Join Exeter Connection; a peer to peer learning journey for curious folk looking for community and connection in Exeter.

Other friendly faces such as Martin Howitt and lots of lovely new faces - I look forward to doing more together across Exeter, Bristol and Bath! Definitely opportuity to strengthen our connections and regional activity.

Reflecting with Superhighways

Wonderful to also connect this past week with a couple of friendly faces who've long been on our Dot Project journey. Superhighways has been one of the organisations closest to Dot Project in terms of our areas of impact, and we've shared and learnt together over the years.

A reflection session with Kate White from Superhighways helped to make sense of the sector right now, and what needs we are seeing with digital support. Thrilled to hear the support #London based small charities and community groups will receive over the next five years. The Digital Foundations programme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund will enable these organisations to get the most out of digital and technology to enhance their work. Would love to see more place-based funding like this, particularly here in #bristol #bath.

What's coming up

Festivities of course, and a time for friends, family and generally recovering from a crazy year. This will also be a time to make sense of what next year might bring, and some creative thinking particularly in our Dot Project context. I sense the challenge around funding is here to stay for a good while, so how might we shift in ways that allow us to continue to deeply support the sector.

Happy Christmas all, and here's to new beginnings in 2023 x

??????