Established Leaders - CEOs

Working for an organisation dedicated to ending homelessness

This must be a voluntary community sector homelessness organisation. Your organisation does not need to be a member of Homeless Link.

Passionate about collaborating to achieve social impact and improve equity, diversity and inclusion

We want the programme to have long lasting impact on the sector. Your interest in collaborating with your fellow participants beyond the life of the programme is key.

CEO role or equivalent

There is no minimum time that you have been in post, but we would expect you to have at least five years’ leadership experience in some context.

Commitment to attendance

In order for you and your fellow participants to get the most out of the programme, we ask you to commit to attending all sessions.

Welcome and Closing Days

All programmes will kick-off and conclude with an in-person welcome and closing day, allowing you to meet your peers as well as leaders on other cohorts, and to build trusted relationships.

Leadership workshops

Participants will join workshops considering different aspects of charity leadership, with a particular focus on issues and challenges facing the homelessness sector. Delivered by inspiring CEOs and other expert speakers, all sessions are co-produced with an EDI specialist and an Expert by Experience. Each workshop is a half-day session in groups of 12, including presentation, discussion, reflection, group work and peer learning.

Action Learning Sets (ALS)

Action Learning is a powerful tool for developing critical-thinking, problem-solving, creative solutions and innovative practice. Action Learning Sets are a simple way for individuals to learn from each other, using the combined wisdom and skills of a diverse group of people to work through real situations faced in the workplace. You will meet three times through the course of the programme, in groups of six, with a trained facilitator. Find out more about Action Learning in Lucy and Laura's blog.

Online networking community

Established Leaders provides an opportunity to build relationships with other CEOs working in the homelessness sector. An online community enables participants to support and be supported by their peers during the life of the programme and beyond. Whatsapp is used to ask questions, share learnings and offer mutual support throughout the duration of the programme. At the end, all participants will have the option to join our growing leadership alumni on LinkedIn.

Open-to-all webinars

Our open-to-all webinars provide an opportunity to hear first-hand from CEOs and other expert speakers. Some sessions will be run as open Q&As, and others will address particular themes and topics relevant to all leaders. Topics include Inclusive Leadership, creating more diverse and inclusive organisations, and how to involve people with lived experience authentically.

There is no limitations on who can attend these sessions: you are welcome to encourage other leaders from within your organisation to attend.

Self-assessment tools

In order to become a more effective leader, it is vital to have a good understanding of your own natural leadership and communication style. Participants will use a strengths-based psychometric profile tool to explore who they are, as individuals and as leaders.

Leadership tools and resources

Homeless Link has a growing catalogue of toolkits and resources to support you in developing and improving your organisation and the wider landscape. These include a co-production toolkit, a framework for strengths-based working and a toolkit to write to your local MP on the cost of living crisis.

EDI workshop

Participants will join leaders on other cohorts for a masterclass on what inclusive leadership and equity mean in the context of homelessness organisations. They will have the opportunity to use the Homeless Link EDI Maturity Tool to self-assess the maturity of their organisation in relation to EDI, and identify practical steps to take.

Leadership Summit

We strongly encourage CEOs participating in Established Leaders to attend our two-day Leadership Summit. This annual event provides leaders in our sector with the time and space needed to reflect on the past year and plan for times ahead, presenting the opportunity to learn from expert speakers as well as one another.

Mentoring

Mentoring offers you the opportunity to learn from a successful leader and build your knowledge of strategic issues. Participants have the option to be matched with a more experienced leader within the homelessness sector. Initially a six-month relationship, this will offer you a chance to ask questions, discuss real-life challenges, work towards personal and organisational goals, and learn from the mentors’ skills, experience and expertise.

Coaching

Leadership coaching provides a confidential, safe space for reflection and discussion, and empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own personal development. You will be matched with a qualified coach, who may not be a homelessness expert. The role of the coach is to help you reflect to solve your own problems and to act as a “critical friend”.