Acevo has launched a membership programme to offer support to women who are aspiring chief executives, in memory of former chief executive of the Foyer Federation Jane Slowey.
The Jane Slowey memorial membership programme will offer free support, guidance, advice and mentoring for women who are aspiring chief executives, or are in their first two years as a chief executive at a charity or social enterprise.
It will prioritise applications from women under 45, from a BAME background and/or who have a disability, “in keeping with the passions and priorities that Jane held throughout her working life”.
It is being funded through a crowdfunding campaign hosted on BT MyDonate which aims to raise £10,000. It will run in two cohorts of eight individuals supported per cohort. The first will take place from January 2019 to December 2020, and the second from January 2021 to December 2022.
The programme will be delivered by Acevo and has been developed in partnership with those who knew Slowey, and “who benefitted from her generous leadership and friendship”.
Slowey led the Foyer Federation for 13 years up until her retirement in early 2017 and died from cancer shortly after. Prior to that she spent six years as chief executive of Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, and had served as vice chair of NCVO. She was awarded a CBE in 2009 for services to disadvantaged young people.
The programme
The application process opens today and closes on 30 November. Participants of the programme will receive:
- Full Acevo membership.
- A mentor - eight charity chief executives will mentor the first cohorts throughout the two year programme.
- Four learning/networking/training days.
- Two annual dinners with fellow cohorts, hosted by Prospectus
The eight chief executive mentors for the first cohort are: Rosie Ferguson from Gingerbread; Charlotte Hill from Step up to Serve; Matt Hyde from The Scouts; Matt Stevenson-Dodd from Street League; Thomas Lawson from Leap Confronting Conflict; Nick Wilkie from NCT; Helen Marshall from Brook; and Rosemary Watt-Wyness from London Youth
Ferguson from Gingerbread, the charity for single parents, was both a friend of Jane’s and benefited from her support. She was involved in the creation of the programme. She said: “We believe this is a fitting tribute to a truly inspirational woman who was a mentor and role model to so many of us. She was fiercely passionate about equality and encouraging new generations of sector leaders to dream big for social change.”
Vicky Browning, chief executive of Acevo, said: “It is a privilege to be delivering this programme in memory of Jane Slowey who was an inspiring woman who made a huge impact on everyone she worked with. Jane believed in building a strong pipeline of women in leadership and I am proud of Acevo’s role in continuing Jane’s work in her memory.
“In order for civil society to grow, strengthen and thrive, its leadership needs to become more representative. This programme is an opportunity to support the talent of people with a diversity of lived experiences and we look forward to receiving applicants from a broad group of people with different experiences and expertise.”
Candidates will be shortlisted by a steering group consisting of those who knew Jane and a representative of Acevo.
Further details are available here.
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