For our next #FellowFriday we are pleased to introduce you to Hannah Taaffe, Girl Voice Lead at Girlguiding and Clore Social Emerging Leader Fellow. Read Hannah's interview which covers her unique leadership journey and some of the projects she is currently working on.

Tell us about your leadership journey to date.

I’m sometimes embarrassed to admit that I grew up largely uninterested in politics – something I now know was a privileged position to be in. But I received a baptism of fire on arrival at a politically active university in the centre of London in the early 2010s, during a wave of protests against tuition fees and austerity. I was lucky to be placed in halls with some amazing feminists who took the time to help me learn and develop my beliefs. Late night (and early morning) debates with them shaped me into the feminist I am today. 
So, freshly inspired and fired up to change the world, I sought out any opportunity to make a difference that I could squeeze between my studies and part-time jobs. I was a steward at protests, did admin work for an anti-austerity organisation, and later became Publicity Officer at the university’s Women’s Network. 
This voluntary experience turned out to be a great launchpad into a career in social impact. During my final year of university, I worked part-time at the Fawcett Society, a women’s rights organisation, and after completing my final exams I worked at Global Citizen, a digital advocacy platform. I learned so much in these roles - from communications and events to campaigns and advocacy. What I love about campaigning is helping people see themselves as agents of change, and inspiring them to take positive action. No action or person is too small to make a difference – everything and everyone can have a ripple effect. 

It wasn’t until I worked at Save the Children UK that I began to see myself as a leader, thanks to an amazing line manager. Her style of line management was all about coaching and finding opportunities to help me grow. She supported me to get involved in projects where I could develop skills and experience in areas I was interested in – such as working with children and young people. 

She encouraged me to apply for the Clore Social Leadership Emerging Leaders (Women and Girls) programme. At the time, I was volunteering with Girlguiding with a group of Rangers (14–18-year-olds) in south London, and was trustee of a small suicide prevention charity called Olly’s Future. But I was in a junior position at Save the Children, so I felt a lot of imposter syndrome when I was accepted into the programme. How could I be a leader, when I didn’t have anything like ‘manager’ in my job title? My time on the programme helped me to see leadership is not about your job title or your place in a hierarchy – it’s about inspiring others around you, which has a ripple effect that can ultimately transform the world around us.

I now work at Girlguiding, where I lead the advocate panel – a group of Girlguiding members aged 14-25 who speak out on behalf of girls and young women across the UK on issues they care about. These young people inspire me every day, and show me that anyone can be a leader, at any age. 

What impact did the 2020 Emerging Leader: Women and Girls Programme have on your leadership journey?

It gave me the confidence to see myself as a leader. It also taught me that wellbeing is fundamental to sustainable social leadership – we must look after ourselves so that we can continue supporting others to create change.
Being part of the 2020 cohort, it’s impossible to think about my time on the programme without remembering the uncertainty and anxiety of early lockdowns. I think that’s what helped us as a cohort to develop such a deep connection – we supported each other through some really difficult moments. This taught me that vulnerability is a huge part of leadership; if you allow others to hold you up, it ultimately makes you stronger. 

What were your takeaways from the Emerging Leader: Women and Girls Programme? 

Many of the tools and resources have come in handy over the years. I often find myself going  back to my Clore Social notebook to help myself or sometimes to share with my partner, who is also a leader in the social impact sector.
But the best takeaway is undoubtedly the incredible network of Clore Social fellows. They’ve been there to support me as I’ve considered career decisions and big life changes. This network has also provided opportunities for collaboration; just recently I’ve worked with another fellow from the programme to plan an event to inspire young Girlguiding members to consider careers in politics.
My work mostly concerns advocacy and external lobbying, but I also support our advocates to feed into internal changes, such as within governance and strategy. I’m always looking for more ways we can bring in the voices of young people into our decision-making. I’ve taken what I learnt on the programme and put it into practice. I’m more confident in making suggestions, challenging constructively, managing upwards and influencing others.

What projects are you excited to be working on in the near future?

I’m currently in the process of two different types of recruitment: recruiting for new volunteer members of the advocate panel, and recruiting a new member of staff who I will line manage. It will be my first formal line management role, four years after I first applied for the Clore Social programme! In that time I’ve mentored and coached junior colleagues, as well as the young people I work with, but I’m really excited to apply my learnings from the programme to this new challenge of line management. As I embark on this new chapter of my leadership journey, I feel lucky to have such a strong foundation through Clore Social. 

What advice would you give to someone considering taking part in the Emerging Leader programme? 

Go for it, and commit to it. It’s a transformative experience. You will learn new skills and tools to apply to your work (or wherever you do your changemaking), and you will be welcomed into an incredible network of Clore Social Fellows which will be invaluable for years to come. But most importantly, you will learn more about yourself and your own leadership style, develop resilience, and learn how to look after yourself – so that you can continue to tackle the social challenges of today and tomorrow.

You can find Hannah on Twitter and LinkedIn.

You can find Girlguiding on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.

This #VolunteersWeek, Reindolf Asanate-Manu shared with us all the wonderful volunteering work he has been doing for knife violence. 

My volunteering journey has been growing and fulfilling. Throughout my life, I have done pockets of various voluntary activities. I have always had a sense of giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the lives of others. From working with local charities to participating in environmental clean-up projects, I have learnt a lot along the way.

Specifically, about four months ago, a few of my friends and I decided to start a youth education programme on knife violence. We recognised the urgent need to address this issue and provide young people with the knowledge and resources to prevent such violence. We formed a small team of four dedicated individuals and planned organising education meetings in different communities across London and other parts of the UK.

In our education meetings, we focused on raising awareness about the consequences of knife violence and providing practical strategies for conflict resolution and non-violent communication. We have had two meetings so far and each meeting was carefully planned and included speakers with lived experiences (ex gang members) who shared valuable insights and experiences related to the issue.

Though we haven't had a lot of these meetings, we have witnessed positive changes within the community we have reached so far. The young people who attended our education meetings have shown a greater understanding of the dangers associated with gangs and  knife violence and have expressed a desire to find to focus their time on other productive activities. We have received feedback from participants who have shared how our sessions have influenced them to rethink their choices and adopt non-violent approaches.

Beyond the immediate impact on individuals, our work also aims to have a ripple effect within the community. By raising awareness and initiating discussions about knife violence, we want to spark conversations among parents, educators, and community leaders. This will lead to a collective effort to address the issue more effectively, with more people joining our cause and offering their support.

Whilst our journey is still in its early stages, we remain committed to expanding our education programme and reaching more communities. We believe that by empowering young people with knowledge and promoting a culture of non-violence, we can contribute to a safer and more harmonious society.

This #VolunteersWeek, Rachel shared with us all the lovely volunteering work she has been doing as the Chief Executive of Tempo Time Credits and in her own community.

Tell us more about your volunteering journey?

I am the Chief Executive of Tempo Time Credits. Tempo is a national charity that has spent 15 years supporting communities across England and Wales. We work with a network of charities, social enterprises, corporate partners and local organisations. We work to connect people to the causes close to them – enabling and encouraging volunteering by awarding Time Credits that recognise their contribution.

Whilst in my day job I get to see the amazing things that volunteers give to the community every day I am also very privileged to volunteer in my own community. I am the Secretary for my local community centre, the community centre is run by a small team of volunteers who host the most amazing range of activities and opportunities for local people. From Irish dance classes to a monthly produce market, there really is something for everyone.

In January I set up a Cuppa Club at the centre to address the issues associated with loneliness and isolation. The Cuppa Club has been running twice weekly by a small team of community members and has been making a huge difference to those attending. A slice of toast, hot cuppa, good conversation and the occasional game of cards has been incredibly well received by those that have come along. It’s also created a warm space for those that have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

Are there any specific details you would like to mention about your volunteering experience? 

I love giving something back to my own community. I get to meet the most amazing people and hopefully make a difference to them through the volunteering that I do. I have also been fundraising in my local community over the last year and raised over £40,000 to support the Ukraine crisis as well as for families in my local community. I work in community development daily, volunteering enables me to work in my community and hopefully make a difference to the people and the community where I live.

How do you think your volunteering work has impacted the community?

Through the volunteering that I have been involved with I have been able to bring others together. Through coffee mornings, cake sales, quiz nights and activities at the community centre I have made new friends, developed new opportunities, and provided a range of local activities that brings people together.

Today, with the lingering impact of the pandemic, coupled with the rising prices of everything from food to fuel, the volunteering landscape has changed. Many who used to volunteer now work longer hours – earning to survive – leaving our communities short of the volunteers so crucial to lifeline support services across the country. In short, volunteer recruitment is an issue happening right now, right on your doorstep. At Tempo Time Credits our work helps engage and retain new people, recognising them for their time and skills. In times of austerity, when they’re faced with difficult decisions every day, it’s a huge challenge.

You can find Rachel Gegeshidze on LinkedIn and Twitter!

You can Tempo Time Credit on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!