With the negative press that charities have received over the last year, it is more important than ever for the sector’s leaders to stand up for themselves and show how their organisations are making a difference.
To recognise the efforts of those that are, in 2013 I set up, along with digital consultant Matt Collins, the Top 30 Charity CEOs on Social Media Awards. This year the nominations rose by 50% – which alone shows how charity leaders are increasingly growing in confidence with digital.
Our winners, announced today, are using social media in ever more sophisticated ways, discussing key issues about their causes and the sector, championing and offering support to beneficiaries and demonstrating impact through storytelling. They’re confident about blending the professional and personal, using humour (where appropriate) and have a warm and authentic tone of voice to engage followers. Their social media presence shows how charities are still fighting to make a difference and are undaunted in campaigning for social change. Their work could help reclaim the narrative of our sector, one tweet at a time.
The top 30
Deborah Alsina – Bowel Cancer UK
Great day of meetings in Washington DC talking about #Never2Young and advanced bowel cancer. Lots of energy and ideas. I like that!
— Deborah Alsina (@DeborahAlsina) November 2, 2015
Owen Barder – Center for Global Development in Europe
Everything the government does to try to make foreign aid project British values and influence makes it project those values less. #UKAID
— Owen Barder (@owenbarder) October 31, 2015
Craig Bennett – Friends of the Earth
FIVE WEEKS AGO, I sent this letter to Transport Sec Patrick McLoughlin asking key Q's on #VW scandal #StillNoAnswers pic.twitter.com/gA7iqWK7vL
— Craig Bennett (@CraigBennett3) November 3, 2015
Caron Bradshaw – Charity Finance Group
Great thought provoking read from Debra Allcock Tyler: We're not awful for asking for donations | Third Sector https://t.co/DtWGOnbERo
— caron bradshaw (@caronlb) October 22, 2015
Paul Breckell – Action on Hearing Loss
Very excited about the launch of #hearingmatters at Westminster on Wednesday @ActionOnHearing latest report. Final version looks great!
— Paul Breckell (@pbreckell) November 2, 2015
Stephen Cornish – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Some 67 killed, 250 wounded in market-bombing in Damascus besieged area. @MSF urges #UNSC to stop massacres in Syria pic.twitter.com/TrIgV0znUW
— Stephen Cornish (@Stephen_Cornish) October 31, 2015
Frances Crook – Howard League for Penal Reform
We have a taskforce on child protection, a review of children in care, an inquiry on children penal system. Hope they all talk to each other
— Frances Crook (@francescrook) November 3, 2015
Mark Flannagan – Beating Bowel Cancer
@r3darmy happy days. Great news. Go celebrate.
— Mark Flannagan (@MarkFlannCEO) October 27, 2015
Steve Ford – Parkinson’s UK
Thanks for the great conversation - so many ideas to build on @MartinTaylor9 @1in20parkinsons @PJacksonClark https://t.co/zWUepPftda
— Steve Ford (@SteveGFord) November 3, 2015
Nicky Goulder – Create
People with disabilities are so rarely represented on screen. A radical change needs to be made or prejudice will continue to thrive.
— Nicky Goulder (@NickyGoulder) October 29, 2015
Liam Hackett – Ditch the Label
Repping @DitchtheLabel at @StandUpFdn @barclayspectrum Gala last week. pic.twitter.com/zvMTmpXFK5
— Liam Hackett (@DiageoLiam) October 19, 2015
Stephen Hale – Refugee Action
Morning. @ippr event on Germany & refugee crisis. Facts: 580,000 entrants + 300,000 asylum applicants in 2014. Syria 80% yes, Balkans <1%.
— Stephen Hale (@SHaleGeneva) October 22, 2015
Edel Harris – Cornerstone
This is a really important report on improving lives with people who have LD https://t.co/Dq0rZ474uG … @CornerstoneScot
— Edel Harris (@Edelharris) October 30, 2015
John Hibbs – The Hibbs Lupus Trust
Our #volunteers make a huge difference to the lives of people affected by #lupus, every single day. Get involved: http://t.co/g2Q1vkDMBw
— John Hibbs (@hibbsy) October 12, 2015
Helena Holt – Devon Air Ambulance Trust
Brilliant interview. Watch! https://t.co/mawMyw4yMm
— Helena Holt (@hgholt) October 18, 2015
Rhidian Hughes – Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
These are leading indicators that demonstrate a crunch for #socialcare: they must not be ignored by #autumnstatement https://t.co/KDbnisJ0PM
— Rhidian Hughes (@rhidianhughes) November 3, 2015
Andrew Johnston – The Boys’ Brigade
Packed day @BBNI meetings discussion but best of all was #prayertime with staff. Already planning 4 #BBConference2016 #Batallions2Belfast!
— Andrew Johnston (@boysbrigadeceo) November 2, 2015
Dalton Leong – The Children’s Trust
Wise words from @karlwilding on @BBCNews re #kidscompany fiasco. Happy to talk to anyone about the difference we make at @Childrens_Trust
— Dalton Leong (@DaltonLeong) October 29, 2015
Louise Macdonald – Young Scot
So grateful to so many fantastic young people & stakeholders who have attended our strategic insight sessions - Mitchell Library tonight!
— Louise Macdonald (@Louisemac) November 3, 2015
John May – The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
Thank you, @tifferly and @johncaswell for leading our discussions at @intaward #Forum2015! Safe journeys home! pic.twitter.com/k9jo7B8tXV
— John May (@johnccmay) October 31, 2015
Robert Meadowcroft – Muscular Dystrophy UK
We're thinking of Stanley and all of you #TopLittleMan best wishes & hope he's soon back to his amazing self again https://t.co/deB3bhSQPL
— Robert Meadowcroft (@MDUK_Robert) November 3, 2015
Jo Smith – Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Every child should get to run wild. Exciting new campaign launched today #everychildwild https://t.co/huY1daOKm6 pic.twitter.com/VDR2mdQhbp
— Jo Smith (@JoSmithDWT) November 4, 2015
Matt Stevenson-Dodd – Street League
At @Street_League and @StreetStepUK we're making an impact! It's amazing what sport can do. #SportingFuture @DCMS pic.twitter.com/pjR9LKOSOT”
— Matt Stevenson-Dodd (@Matt_SD) October 1, 2015
Ruth Sutherland – Samaritans
Minister Alistair Burt looking great in a Samaritans T Shirt marking #WSPD thank you so much for a great visit pic.twitter.com/TybJsTN7IJ
— Ruth Sutherland (@SamaritansRuth) September 10, 2015
Jessica Taplin – Get Connected
50k 16-17 girls sexually assaulted last year - terrible statistics need to improve safeguards @childrensociety https://t.co/0Xv6PjLLsu
— Jessica Taplin (@Jessicataplin) November 4, 2015
Jeremy Taylor – National Voices
Have your say re relns between statutory & vol sectors in health & care. https://t.co/SEfjIKC4Mi You don't have to be VCSE to comment.
— Jeremy Taylor (@JeremyTaylorNV) October 27, 2015
Jan Tregelles – Mencap
Disability hate crime is on the rise. @mencap_charity figures show a shocking 88% PWLD reported bullying and harassment in preceding year
— Janine Tregelles (@JanTregelles) November 3, 2015
Peter Wanless – NSPCC
Taking a group of inspirational young people along to discuss this @NSPCC report with Ministers today https://t.co/yo80KzGJ5Z
— Peter Wanless (@PeterWanless) October 28, 2015
Andy Winter – Brighton Housing Trust
@CoxGraham Be blunt! RTB just doesn’t stack up financially, & has exacerbates the housing crisis. It defies logic beyond ideological reasons
— Andy Winter BHT (@AndyWinterBHT) November 2, 2015
Jo Youle – Missing People
Spent valuable time with @missingpeople frontline team on 116000 & uplifting to hear about missing people being found/sending messages home
— Jo Youle (@JoeyYoule) October 10, 2015
Other winners included:
Senior leader – Karl Wilding from National Council of Voluntary Organisations
.@CivSoc1 @NVCO Ive argued many times that in period where digital is disrupting the charity model, boards don’t have enough digital natives
— Karl Wilding (@karlwilding) November 4, 2015
Trustee – Leon Ward from UpRising, Plan International UK and Brook
Should charities leave London? I'm kicking off @Trusteesweek with this divisive question.... #TrusteesWeek https://t.co/mzLpkp8zRO
— Leon Ward (@LeonjWard) November 2, 2015
Rising Star – Angela Style from Endometriosis UK
"Oh is it 27th already? Think I'll treat myself to a cheeky period". Great article on taboos behind #Tampontax etc https://t.co/mOegHuNSVV
— Angela Style (@angelacstyle) October 28, 2015
We’ve put together a free guide, with fundraising platform JustGiving, to help charity chief executives on social media. Sign up here to get your free copy.
