The Power of Small – a gathering for grassroots organisations
On Thursday 25 June 2026, around 100 people from roughly 75 organisations joined us online for our first-ever Small Charities Week gathering. Grassroots charities, CICs, social enterprises and partners from the NHS, universities and local authorities came together for honest conversations about what small organisations really need to thrive. This page shares what we heard — and how to stay involved.
What we heard
A few themes ran through the panel, the chat and every breakout room:
- Funding that’s fair and sustainable, not just available
- Time, capacity and headspace to collaborate
- Clearer routes into the system, and a stronger collective voice
- A shift from crisis response towards prevention, with community voice shaping decisions
And six words that became the shared language of the day: connection, collaboration, coordination, community, co-production and co-design.
What happens next
This was the start of something ongoing, not a one-off:
- Regular connection spaces to keep grassroots, system and corporate partners talking
- An idea that emerged on the day – a peer-support space for leaders, which we’re now exploring how to convene
- Share what you can offer – space, skills, networks or training; tell us what you can give as well as what you need
With thanks
To everyone who showed up, and to our sponsors – GovBox, Equiti Health and the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation. BSL interpretation by Diane and Suzy; visual scribing by Carrie Lewis.
Want to be part of what’s next?
Email us at info@compasswellbeing.co.uk