Aspiring human. Founder of Humanity Squared. Charity Strategist. Blade for hire. Queer. @CharityIslandD host. Ex @RefugeeAction, @AmnestyUK he/him
Brighton - Muesli Mountain
- Tweets 20,453
- Following 4,430
- Followers 11,516
- Likes 17,908
Pinned Tweet
Had a chat with a CEO today who wanted his 40 page org strategy condensed to a 2-pager. I made it fit on the back of a business card. This is also my own working methodology now too. Hope helpful. x
45
104
742
Teachers change lives. I’m absolutely broken by this message from our sons teacher. Humanity incoming.
109
201
5,387
Son told me how kids in the playground are taking the knee before they have a kick around. That’s how you change culture.
22
135
1,415
Worth repeating. Your strategy isn’t a document. It’s a set of mutually agreed decisions, created by all and owned by all. The document is just the receipt.
6
98
591
The awful bile from The Daily Fail about @RNLI nearly broke me. Then I read about the compassion and humanity of people donating/increasing their support, and realise we outnumber the idiots. We just need to be as vocal as they are. #RNLI_disgrace
6
56
408
This quote from an interview/chat today is everything.
“Using people with lived experience to constantly relive their trauma for fundraising isn’t equity. I have more to offer.”
7
66
350
Holy shit, is anyone watching BBC2 right now? Carole King is basically responsible for writing most of the best songs in the world (mostly for other people)
17
28
325
47,289
Anyone else have that one charity job that deeply scarred them, but also planted the seeds of who you are today?
72
10
301
Upping my free consultancy to 3 days a month. Ideally want to work with orgs that I have a bit of lived experience in. Adoption. Childhood trauma. Homelessness. No agenda. All free. Anything you need. No job too small. Just shout. X
29
101
282
A client actually paid me, a consultant, to have a day off this week.
“You always work way beyond what you charge for. Payback time. Have a day off on us”.
Values go a long way people.
8
7
267
Just found out my wife fancies @RonJichardson. Anyone else?
53
1
251
It’s my birthday tomorrow. I’ll be the same age my dad was when I got kicked out of home. My son will always have a home. I win.
20
203
I won a thing. I never win things. Hopefully it’s because I spent lock down connecting with as many good eggs as I possibly could, and getting them to connect more too. Humans are amazing. Thank you x
Hurray for @WayneTheMurray for receiving Best Leader on Social Media Award 2020!
33
3
203
All ready for big school. A big specialist school that has 38 students and 42 staff. Go and be awesome kiddo. No more struggling in mainstream. X
ALT A brand new lunchbox ready for a new school.
8
194
Son and his mates are absolutely pumped that a kid in their class has come out as gay on WhatsApp. “We”re so proud of him”.
These kids are 10. And they are showing our generation up big time. The future might be alright.
12
7
166
Just imagine if we all worked a 4 day week and every weekend felt like a bank holiday one. Can’t we all just do that?
16
14
178
Last day of primary, AND of mainstream school for the boy today. New start and specialist school in September. No more square pegs and round holes. Well done dude. X
5
163
Asked son how his day at school was. It gave me happy tears.
“I cleaned out the horses, did some maths. Then we made bacon sandwiches in the woods and learned about trees.”
18
1
163
The more I work in this area the more I realise that it’s grass roots orgs driving change, and that the role of larger orgs needs to be about support, capacity building and shifting power.
12
11
165
This little fella popped his clogs at the vet today. He stoically made it to 22 years old and is now off to the big warm lap in the sky. X
ALT A 22 year old Burmese cat enjoying the sunshine.
40
7
175
17,858
Leadership in the sector at the moment isn’t coming from job titles is it? It’s coming from values and bravery.
4
17
160
My son called me ‘Daddy Wayne’ for 2 years after he found his forever family. The day he called me ‘Daddy’ made me realise he was settled, felt safe and could accept love. #CareDay22
3
1
147
Children’s charity turning over £210 million a year keen to take me up on my free consultancy offer is some interesting energy.
15
6
162
If you’ve been in the sector a while, try and be the person you wish you’d met when you first started out. Open. Approachable. Kind. Still learning. That kind of thing.
3
12
156
My prediction is that there will be a lot of people fucking off Dry January at precisely 8:06 this evening.
14
3
155
My wife, who is a front line key worker and also in a vulnerable category due to a health condition gets her vaccine next Tuesday and I am ugly crying right now. X
8
132
6 years ago today this force of nature arrived at our house to find his forever home (and have his first mini-milk) He’s teaching us to better humans every day. The future is in safe hands.
14
131
Right, I’m throwing my hat in the ring for the Charity Commission job. I got up to a lot of trouble in my twenties and was declared bankrupt by 32, but I’m kind, collaborative and give a shit about the sector. Do I have your vote?
20
1
136
Son has volunteered to spend the day delivering food bank parcels with his mum, instead of gaming with his friends. I’m a blubbering, proud mess.
7
1
125
Thinking of creating a cross sector working group looking at transformation from every angle. Digital. Strategy. Fundraising. NPD. Wellbeing. Etc. Each month we pick a problem, put our heads together and try to solve it. For free. Anyone interested?
87
2
139
7 years ago today our son moved in with us. Here he is on that day having his first mini-milk. Legend!
ALT Our son, aged 4. The day he moved into his forever home. Tucking into his first mini-milk
7
122
Had a few people questioning why I want to do ‘free’ stuff, or hinting that I’m very lucky to be able to do it. I am, but I want to explain why. It’s certainly not because I’m rich. 1/10
10
6
131
Going to extend my free consultancy from one day a month to two. Especially looking for smaller charities looking to evolve. No agenda. Not looking for work. Just trying to help. Get in touch.
15
41
141
8 years today since our amazing son came to live with us. What a ride. Here he is on that day having his first ever mini-milk. So much love. X
ALT Our amazing son, the day he moved in with us, eating his first Mimi milk and being an absolute legend. X
6
122
9,096
Imagine a functioning charity sector. Where power is shared, lived experience is centred and partnership is the norm. That’s the future we need to build.
8
11
124
“Really want to recommend you for a piece of work around culture at our org, but can you wear a shirt and tie when you meet our CEO on Zoom? He’s quite old-school like that”.
Think your culture issues may be bigger than the brief pal.
15
5
130
I couldn't care less what our son achieves academically, but me and my wife are going to do everything we can to make sure he grows up kind, respectful and has better values towards women than many of my generation of men do.
5
4
119
5 years ago today we met our son. 2 weeks later he moved in with us and had his first Mini-Milk. He's such a strong, funny, caring dude. What a ride!
4
1
121
Psst. Hey charity sector. Running a creative session with your team in a boardroom with Lego and Haribo won’t make you understand lived experience or donor motivations.
11
6
117
Lack of creativity in the charity sector isn’t a talent problem. It’s a culture and capacity one.
10
10
111
Trying new ways of offering free consultancy for cool small charities. Rather than a free day, I’d like to offer a free week, to dig deep. August works. Anyone need anything doing?
47
79
117
I was estranged from my father in my teens. I found out he had died 6 months after his funeral. Big love to anyone who finds this day hard. I’m with you. X
7
1
109
I just called a seagull a massive fucking dickhead and my son is now having a chat with me about managing ‘big feelings’.
9
2
97
Son had his first yearly review at specialist school today.
“He’s just so happy. He’s funny, helpful, engaged, really curious. He’s where he should be”
Big ugly cry from me and Mrs Murray.
5
111
7,082
BIG NEWS! Specialist secondary school placement secured for our boy in September! Take that, broken system!
11
103
I came out to my dad when I was 16 because I fell in love with a man. Then had to come out again when I was 19 because I fell in love with a woman. It was hard, but right. Share some humanity this month #PrideMonth2021
6
3
104
This is so cool. Our son hates reading, but read it and reread it for about an hour. Then drew a picture with loads of hearts and kittens. Belief and kindness are powerful things.
127
Just counted up, and I've met 100 new people since lock down. I can't begin to explain how helpful it has been. Do it. Our sector is amazing.
11
5
113
Went from being street homeless to doing a fine art degree. Taught me to question everything, have my own views and to create. Always to create. Art and ideas pushes culture forward.
6
16
102
11,983
Can we just normalise people being helpful? Not everyone has an agenda. Some humans just want to move the sector forward. For everyone.
5
9
104
I remember when I left my biggest charity job because I couldn’t cope with commuting and childcare, and was told by HR “I’m sorry you couldn’t make it work”
7 years later and they all work remote.
6
4
105
Hey Charity folk. As you return to work, remember the consultants and agencies you work with have exactly the same stresses as you. Foggy head. Anxiety. Home schooling etc. Be kind. Work together. Be human.
1
8
107
Build your strategy right and your final output isn’t a document. It’s a conversation that everyone in your org is comfortable having.
It becomes part of your culture, not part of your bookshelf.
6
10
94
13,135
Fundraising directors from large charities trying to wow you by how much they have ‘personally raised’ is not the best look in terms of leadership qualities. Please stop.
11
8
104
Guess what? @ClaireWarner and I are starting our podcast in 3 weeks. It’s going to be around real stories in the charity sector. Truth, and giving platform to those who need it. Fortnightly, so if you want in, shout. Think the sector needs it.
18
6
100
9,516
There are amazing humans scattered across our sector. But they don’t all work at the same charity/agency. That’s why we need to connect in a different way. Drive change across the sector collectively.
Connect to people you like. Reach out. Chat. Plot. Scheme. Fuck hierarchy.
4
6
95
I was street homeless, and it wasn’t a lifestyle choice. It was kindness from others that got me back on my feet and I see no kindness from this government.
2
11
93
4,750
Keep saying to your kids, “No matter what happens, you’ll always have a place here.”
Imagine not having that safety net. That’s the life many of us have had and it’s terrifying, debilitating and taints your whole life.
9
8
97
I’m in a (lucky) position now with my business to be able to offer a day a month free strategy support to charities who need it. Hit me up if you need any help. No strings. Just kindness. X
11
18
92
Running a workshop this arvo with people who have experienced homelessness. Looking at ways they can genuinely work with the fundraising dept without just being wheeled out to constantly relive their trauma. Progress.
8
1
89
Have a day with just my son tomorrow, but also have a list of stuff from mum we need to do. His take:
“Let’s smash the chores hard early doors, then kick back with Haribo and Netflix”.
I’m the 3rd best strategist in this house.
2
88
Hey Charity sector. Don’t forget to pay your consultants before Christmas. Make it a priority, yeah?
6
84
BIG NEWS KLAXON! Over the moon to start working with @save_children on a global People and Culture project. Humans are amazing!
7
81
“Always carry a picture of yourself as a child. It’s who you really are”. -Brian Cox (Actor)
59
2
94
Just to say that I completely disagree with this. I’m off to wash my eyes in Dettol. Then I’m going to help the sector drive transformational change in a completely different direction to the one outlined below. Bye!
“Charities can challenge , they can shake things up, they can even change the world, but they can’t, & they shouldn’t go out of their way to divide people. If charity is to remain at the forefront of national life it can’t afford to be captured by those who want to advance...
8
7
79
Oh, do fuck off.
My article in today’s @MoS_Politics. Charity is too important for it to become part of political battles, including the culture wars which don’t divide along party lines. @ChtyCommission
7
2
82
Here’s a big cheers to all of my pals in the refugee sector this evening. Off you fuck Priti. Cheers! X
3
82
Best fundraising achievement of my life today. Our family have secured EHCP funding to give our lad the extra support he needs at school. Looks like the skills I’ve gained in 20 years in this sector finally mean something.
6
79
This is the face of a cat that ate an entire bag of prawn crackers whilst we were asleep.
ALT A guilty looking large cat
11
1
85
Well, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Meeting the work wife @ClaireWarner for the first time in the flesh. X
ALT Me and Claire Warner meeting for the first time.
10
86
If you’re supporting #StandWithTrans and getting a bit of troll action, imagine how trans folx feel on the daily. You’re on the right side of history.
7
11
79
11,568
Trying to think through different work scenarios post garden leave. Have got my business plan down to two bullet points.
1) I want to do the best work I possibly can
2) I don’t want to work with arseholes
DM for more details.
12
1
90
If you haven’t been homeless yourself, you have no idea what finally owning your own home in middle age feels like. I literally still kiss the walls on the regular.
I also know how lucky I am. That’s how fucked up this all is.
2
2
79
Claud, my amazing wife hits the big ‘5-0’ birthday today. She’s the kindest human I’ve ever met. I love her.
ALT My lovely wife Claud, wearing dungarees and a Labour rosette.
7
1
75
5,222
Was part of a workshop today asking 6 year olds what advice they would give other kids to be calm. Top answers were:
1) Have a cuddle
2) Read a funny book
3) Stroke a cat
Wise words for us all there.
7
8
84
3,446
Our son turns 13 today! It’s been nearly 9 years since he came to live with us. I’m so proud of the kind, brave person he is. Here’s a picture of him being rad on the first day we met him. Big love x
ALT A blond haired 4 year old being swung in the sea by 2 people just learning to be parents.
8
85
2,354
Introduced son to his first chip sandwich. His feedback was that it was good, but would be better in a wrap. Damn you Brighton and your fancy ways. I despair.
11
2
83
I’m absolutely loving my work at the moment. I genuinely don’t mean to be smug. I set myself the challenge of only working with orgs who are serious about transformational change, and in a human way. And I’m doing it. X
4
85
Cheers all. Whether it’s your last day of work. Whether you have more work to do. Or whether you’re looking for a new role. This one’s for each and every one of you. Well done for surviving 2020 in the charity sector. Humans are amazing. X
10
88
Hardest week I’ve had in months. Couldn’t have got through it without reaching out to pals. But we did it. You’re all awesome. Hope you all find some kindness this weekend. Cheers! X
10
82
New client win! Working with a social justice charity on building new org strategy based on equity, humanity and large scale transformation. Dream gig! Thanks universe! X
10
3
83
Placing a bird feeder near the window where I work has had the single biggest impact on my wellbeing. £3 very well spent.
7
3
79
Charities need to transform. But that needs infrastructure and investment. Spend that has no immediate return. We’ve got to get comfortable with spending more and raising less in the short term so that the medium term is better.
3
10
85
My wife just started slagging off The KLF and we nearly had a big row. But then I realised she meant EMF and we had a big cuddle.
14
3
72
Running a charity workshop today called "What are we definitely not going to do this year?"
I think it's definitely going to have 'Throw your homework onto the fire vibes'. Can't wait.
9
1
79
8,534
I can’t really be true to my values and work on lottery products for charities anymore. Gambling destroys lives. Anyone else feel the same? Am I being too militant?
22
2
78
This little force of nature hits double digits today. 5 and a half years as part of our family. He’s kind, funny and calls out bullshit with such bravery. Keep being awesome kiddo x
5
75
Charities had to strip out all the nonsense, ego and clunky processes during COVID just to get the job done.
Let’s not put it all back in again now.
4
9
72
Fancy joining a really cool club?
So many people think innovation is about big, transformational stuff. It kind of is sometimes, but it’s also about small, human changes.
I’m thinking of setting up a semi regular drop in to celebrate Small Human Innovations.
You in?
27
1
75
10,206
