The moral footballer

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A report in The Guardian today notes that a Newcastle United footballer has got into hot water with his club for refusing to wear the club shirt bearing the name of the club sponsor Wonga.

He’s apparently “refusing to promote the money-lending company on religious grounds and has offered to wear an unbranded shirt or one bearing the name of a charity”.  And I think you have to applaud him for taking a stand like this – he’s done it on religious grounds, but I think anyone could do it on moral grounds in promoting this sort of money lender – and we don’t see enough of people taking a stand like this against something that would be inconsistent with their values.

It’s not the easiest step to take – particularly in a world like that of football – but it sets a good example to all of us to stand by our principles (and do it in a reasonable way).  

Update 26th July 2013
It looks like a few other people feel the same way about this issue – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/25/justin-welby-war-on-wonga

Help for smaller charities

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Many of the most vibrant and important organisations seeking change operate with very small budgets or staff numbers, and can find it difficult to access the help and support open to larger orgainsations. Also, smaller not-for-profit organisations can face quite specific challenges and issues that larger consultancy organisations do not cater for – such as a lack of people to actually implement the plans or recommendations that a consultancy exercise comes up with.

We’re therefore launching a new imprint of ChangeStar – called ChangeStar Jnr – which provides a range of services and support to address the specific challenges and issues that really matter to smaller not-for-profit organisations, and at a price that is realistic for them.

For many smaller organisations, the decision to use this type of service, and even to develop a strategic plan in the first place, can be a difficult one to make. It is easy to find reasons not to do it – for example, the organisation may feel it cannot afford to spend money on planning when it has other priorities. This short outline shows how important good planning is, no matter how small your organisation is. Quite simply, if you don’t plan, you’re very unlikely to achieve your aims.