A joint blog for the new year from our CEO and Head of Income & Development

As we review our business plans and put new plans in place for the coming year, as CEO I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredible resilience, dedication, and hard work that each of our staff has shown. The first year of our five-year strategic plan was focused on laying the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable organisation—one that continues to be fit for purpose and ready to meet the challenges of the future.

Our primary goals in year one were to strengthen our financial position, improve recruitment and retention, and maximise our fundraising potential – all while maintaining the standard of excellence that defines everything we do. This journey has not been without its challenges. We made the tough, but strategic decision to reconfigure and reduce our headcount at head office – to effectively streamline and focus our resource that supports our teams in our homes and services. I am pleased that these necessary steps have started to pay off.

Thanks to the commitment and adaptability of our staff, we are now seeing tangible progress:

• Centralised recruitment has led to significant performance improvements.
• Over-recruitment initiatives have reduced reliance on non-permanent staff and proved financially beneficial.

The excellent work of our training department and the block recruitment induction programme have been instrumental in reducing staff turnover bucking the trend for the complex sector in which we work. These successes are worth celebrating, but they also serve as a reminder that we must press on. The progress we’ve made gives us a solid foundation to build upon.

Looking Ahead – Year Two: Be Brave

Having successfully laid the foundational groundwork in year one, it’s time for us to shift our focus and embrace the next phase of our plan under the new mantra: Be Brave. This is our moment to be bold, to explore new opportunities, and to grow—because we believe in the exceptional quality of the work we do and the life-changing outcomes we achieve for young people.

Now, I want to hand over to Ishaq Kazi, our Senior Head of Income & Development, who will share his ambitious vision for growth and how all can play a part in this exciting chapter. Together, let’s continue to make a difference for the young people we serve.

Be Brave: Growing Together to Transform Lives
By Ishaq Kazi, Senior Head of Income & Development

As we step into the second year of our five-year strategic plan, I wanted to echo Jonathan’s appreciation for our staff’s resilience and commitment, which have been instrumental in navigating the last year. Together, we’ve laid strong foundations, and now is the time to build upon them with ambition, courage, and collective purpose.

At St Christopher’s, we are united by a shared vision: transforming the lives of the young people we serve. Achieving this means embracing growth—not just in our income streams, but in our capacity to innovate, collaborate, and create lasting change.

An Ambitious Vision for Growth

Our vision for the future of St Christopher’s is one where we become even more business-like, sustainable, impactful, and far-reaching. To achieve this, we need to think big and take calculated risks that align with our values and are based on insight and the input of our people. Over the next year, our focus will be on:

Expanding Our Fostering Services:

• Building on our recent successes, we aim to reach more children and young people by increasing the availability of fostering placements. This includes growing our partnerships with local authorities and exploring new areas where our services can meet unmet needs.

Maximising Funding Opportunities:

• We will diversify our income streams by securing multi-year grants, cultivating relationships with corporate partners, and enhancing our fundraising efforts. This includes leveraging our impact stories to demonstrate the life-changing work we do and inspire greater support. Securing unrestricted funding will further allow us to plan for addition interventions/initiatives/projects to build our capacity

Building Strategic Partnerships with Social Investors:

• Collaboration will be key to our growth. We plan to work closely with existing and new statutory and voluntary partners to co-develop services that not only meet but exceed expectations. Identifying new Social Investors and working with them will enable us to explore new services to amplify our impact and reach.

Innovating Service Delivery:

• We will explore new, evidence-based approaches to care and support, ensuring that St Christopher’s remains at the forefront of delivering exceptional services and a partner of choice.
• Whilst remaining committed to St Christophers Values, we will explore practical opportunities to diversify into other areas and tap into credentials and expertise we already have.
• Maximising our pre-existing assets and redefining our physical footprint will allow us to reinvest in residential properties will be part of our ambition to build our asset portfolio.

How Our Staff And Supporters Can Help Us Achieve This Vision

The promise of our ambitions relies on our collective purpose for championing change. We strongly believe that to succeed we must embrace the following in order to drive this growth forward:

• Be Advocates: Share the stories of the incredible work we do and the outcomes we achieve. Whether it’s within your community or through your networks, raising awareness of our mission helps build connections and support.
• Your ideas matter. change. Development and evolution of an organisation thrives on the input of those who live and breathe the work daily and will ultimately and positively impact tenders, projects and new initiatives
• Be Collaborators: Strong teamwork and cross-departmental communication are critical to our success. By working together, we can overcome challenges and seize new opportunities.
• Be Brave and ambitious: Not being afraid to try new approaches, suggesting bold ideas, or taking on new responsibilities. Our growth requires courage and the willingness to step outside our comfort zones.

A Shared Commitment to Making a Difference

Every action we take—whether big or small—contributes to the wider mission of creating brighter futures for children and young people in care. As we embrace this next chapter, let’s carry forward the passion, dedication, and bravery that define St Christopher’s. Together, we can turn our vision for growth into a reality and transform even more lives.

Thank you for your continued commitment and belief in the work we do. Let’s be bold, be brave, and make a difference together.

Jonathan & Ishaq