Leadership comes first. When a chair walks into a staff away day, the power in the room shifts. Debra and Peter explore how to be present without taking over. Set expectations clearly, invite staff to shape the work, listen with intent, and keep your own opinions light so the team can do its best work.Then, what you wear and why. Clothes send signals whether we like it or not. From suits and ties to hoodies and T-shirts, they unpack how context shapes choices, how to show respect without losing authenticity, and why women still get judged more harshly. Zelensky at the White House comes up as a useful example of principle meeting pragmatism.Finally, volunteers on the street. Where is the line between helpful community action and risky vigilante patrols? The Bournemouth case prompts a look at safeguarding, accountability and why collaboration with the police beats going it alone.Plus: three cats testing a new cat flap, a Brussels away day with the Five Rights Foundation team, bins and fly tipping, and a nod to Amanda Jade Wellington at the Oval.Tell us how you handle leadership presence at away days, what dress signals work in your context, and where you stand on street patrols. Add your thoughts in the comments.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 38 finds Peter settling into life in Somerset after a house move that involved three cats, upside-down beds, and a crash course in rural fruit-picking. But between the rhubarb and the plums, there’s been time for big conversations.Debra’s recent viral LinkedIn post on why leaders should never criticise their predecessors kicks off a deep dive into leadership transitions, respecting the past while building for the future, and the value of framing change positively. The pair share personal experiences, from NSPCC history exercises to 15-year-old work experience gone awry, all showing how fresh eyes and old habits collide.The discussion widens to the hard truths about volunteering: its true costs, why it’s not a free resource, and the tension between financial necessity and community values – illustrated by the Samaritans’ controversial branch closures. And finally, they dissect the Charity Commission’s report on Sentebale, exploring how governance can collapse without clear behaviour codes and conflict resolution rules.Plus, Somerset County Cricket Club turns 150, there’s cider talk, and Debra offers Peter culinary suggestions for his glut of pears.YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnline

More Debra Allcock Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/

More Peter Wanless: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change: https://www.dsc.org.uk

Podcast Producer: José Blazquez

Debra and Peter are back, with plums, pears and punchy opinions.Peter shares what it’s like to chair a global board for the first time (hint: annual accounts are involved), while Debra unveils a secret weapon for apple harvesting. But most of this week’s chat tackles the big stuff:Child online safety: With Ofcom’s new Online Safety powers kicking in, Peter reflects on years of advocacy for stronger digital protections. They take on free speech sceptics, tech company excuses, and why we wouldn’t let kids near unsafe toys. So why accept it online?Board governance: From trustee-only sessions to strategic away days, Peter’s debut meeting at Five Rights Foundation prompts an honest exchange about what boards really need to work well.Doom loops vs determination: Debra explains why she compared the Lionesses’ Euro run to charity sector resilience, and why grim media headlines don’t reflect the full story.All that, plus why apple mush is the enemy and how a heavy-duty grabber changed Debra’s life.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Links and resourcesDebra’s Lionesses piece (DSC blog): https://www.dsc.org.uk/content/what-charities-can-learn-from-the-england-womens-football-team/Five Rights Foundation: child-rights resources – https://5rightsfoundation.com/resources/Ofcom’s Online Safety Act consultation – https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/protecting-children-from-harms-online/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

Episode 36 dives deep into last week’s hush‑hush unveiling of the Government and Civil Society Covenant – complete with a last‑minute venue reveal, ministers packed shoulder‑to‑shoulder in the Science Museum, and a buffet so petite even Debra’s good humour wavered.Debra and Peter unpack the Covenant’s four headline principles, from independence and campaigning rights to data transparency, then tackle the big questions: Will it actually put money where its mouth is? Can small local charities speak truth to power without payback? And what sort of “teeth” would keep future governments from quietly binning the whole thing?Along the way, they swap ideas on fair funding, better contracting and how the new Covenant Council could give every corner of the sector a genuine voice.Have thoughts on the Covenant? Comment below or email us – we’d love to hear your take.YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

❤️ This episode is dedicated to Jenny (2018 to 2025), Peter's beloved tabby. She will be deeply missed.Episode 35 is all about interviews – from both sides of the table.First up: preparing as a candidate. Debra shares straight-talking tips on researching the organisation, framing savvy questions and owning your nerves so they work for you instead of against you.Then: designing the interview itself. Peter explains why competence-based panels, timed tasks and values-based questions can reveal more than clever hypotheticals, and how to make applicants feel welcome while still stretching them.Finally: learning from the near-misses. Together they reflect on interviews that didn’t go to plan, confidence gaps that keep great people from applying and why the jobs you don’t land can still shape a brilliant career.What’s the best interview advice you’ve ever been given? Comment below or email us with your thoughts!YouTube Subscribe: YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blázquez

Episode 34! Debra and Peter take on two huge questions: why are a million UK children still living in destitution, and what can today’s charities learn from Live Aid’s 40‑year legacy?First, they unpack the latest numbers on child poverty and destitution, asking whether family‑hub plans and the long‑debated two‑child cap are really tackling the root causes, or just papering over widening cracks.Then it’s off to Wembley (in spirit) as the hosts reminisce about Live Aid’s goose‑bump moment and challenge the sector to balance headline‑grabbing fundraisers with the hard graft of systemic change. From starfish stories to small‑grants lifelines, they debate whether “band‑aids” still matter.All this, plus period‑poverty campaigns, trustee longevity at Band Aid, and Peter’s plot to squeeze in a day at the Test match.Send your questions to jblazquez@dsc.org.uk or comment below for the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock TylerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter WanlessLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez

This week Debra and Peter touch upon looking after your pets in a heatwave as well as hearing from beloved family members via old cassette tapes. They also discuss leadership challenges in-depth, including the power of the spoken word, how the words we use make such a powerful difference, government “U-turns” and alien visitors. They also discuss organisational consultations, engaging with staff and listening to them. And they talk about agreement vs alignment in terms of relationships with the Board.Subscribe and don’t miss the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: Justin Martin

Debra recounts her journey (literally and metaphorically) to Leeds, where she gave a keynote to Yorkshire Funders. She dives into why funders must speak up more often, not to demand money but to influence change. Peter reflects on his own time at the Lottery and reinforces how insights from grantmakers can shape public policy in ways that quietly transform lives. The conversation then unpacks the obsession with short-term impact. What if some of the most meaningful change takes decades to surface? From the legacy of Sure Start to the language of transformational vs transactional funding, it’s a rich discussion that challenges the status quo. They also talk about leadership and culture: how big vs small organisations handle remote work, staff connection, and that classic "who looks taller in real life" moment. From all-staff quizzes to serious reflections on hybrid working, it’s thoughtful and funny in equal measure. Plus: Peter is moving house (with four cats) and Debra still isn’t over being mistaken for a lace-tablecloth enthusiast. Subscribe and don’t miss the next episode!YouTube Subscribe: https://YouTube.com/@DSCOnlineMore Debra Allcock Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-allcock-tyler-8013214/More Peter Wanless: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sir-peter-wanless-b43aa372/Produced by: Directory of Social Change https://www.dsc.org.ukPodcast Producer: José Blazquez