As part of our commitment to inclusive development, CAPE People Development integrates a unique component into our Developing Brilliant People Managers open programme: real-world coaching conversations with charity and nonprofit leaders. 

This initiative is not just a learning opportunity, it’s a way of creating meaningful social impact. 

Why we do it 

We believe personal and career development should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their sector or resources. By partnering with a range of UK charities and social impact organisations, we create development opportunities for people who might otherwise lack access to coaching or formal leadership support. 

At the same time, our programme participants gain invaluable experience applying their coaching skills in a real context, listening, supporting, and helping others think through the challenges they face in their roles. 

The model in action 

As part of the programme, every participant completes four structured coaching conversations with an individual working or volunteering in the third sector. These conversations typically take place over a three-month period and focus on confidence, clarity, and professional growth. 

We partner with organisations such as:

• Signpost for Carers 

• Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid 

• Saathi House 

• The Together Project 

• Crisis Skylight Birmingham 

• Refugees & Mentors 

• 4 Community Trust 

• Reuben’s Retreat 

Participants coach a wide range of people, from team leaders and managers to volunteers and service users, who might not normally have access to this type of personal development support. 

How we prepare and support 

CAPE provides briefings, safeguarding guidance and supervision for all participants. Coaching takes place online and is designed to be flexible, confidential and inclusive. Charity partners help identify participants who would benefit, and we collect impact feedback at the end of the process. 

We also advertise opportunities through our networks including Make Good Grow, the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and Derby University Work Health Hub, helping us extend our social impact to a diverse community. 

Coaching in action: a real-world case study 

One charity participant, a team manager, was facing a perfect storm of challenges, a sudden change in leadership, expanding responsibilities, and productivity issues within their team. 

Over four coaching sessions with a CAPE participant, they: 

• Built confidence in their decision-making 

• Created plans for managing underperformance and navigating team conflict 

• Identified their own development priorities, including stepping up into a more senior role 

“My coach was very kind and adapted the sessions well to the different changes and challenges going on at my organisation.” 

This is just one of dozens of examples of how coaching creates clarity, growth and momentum during moments of change. 

Measurable outcomes 

Over the last few years, this initiative and wider CAPE social impact support has delivered: 

• Over 600 hours of free coaching to more than 70 people in the charity sector 

• A social impact value of £30,000+ in personal development support 

• 77% of charity participants reported increased confidence 

• 85% said it helped them identify their strengths and skills 

• 70% would highly recommend the experience (rating 9 or 10 out of 10) 

And for our programme participants: 

• It’s one of the most powerful, confidence-building parts of the programme 

• It deepens their skills in listening, holding space and staying non-directive 

• It reinforces the role of leadership as a facilitator of others’ growth 

A win-win for leadership and inclusion 

This approach does more than build coaching skills, it builds empathy, connection, and a shared sense of purpose. For participants, it’s a transformational shift from instructing to empowering. For charity partners, it provides a rare opportunity for structured thinking space. 

It’s also one of the few coaching-based development models to directly support the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including: 

• Goal 4: Quality Education: by providing personal development to those in underfunded sectors 

• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities: by addressing the access gap in coaching and professional support 

Looking ahead 

With growing demand, we now offer this model on both our open and in-house programmes. We currently support 80+ charity coaching conversations annually, and our ambition is to reach 1,000 conversations over the next three years. 

If you’re a charity that would like to be involved, or a business that wants to support leadership development with a wider purpose, we’d love to talk 📩 Get in touch