If you want your philanthropy to change society for the better, talk to me.
It’s easy to make grants but actually changing things is hard.
I am the UK’s go-to person for philanthropy focused on social justice and change. My distinct approach gives philanthropists, funders, campaigners, charities and political parties the insight, expertise and connections they need to challenge the status quo, and change society for the better.
I am a social reformer by nature and passion. I draw on two decades of leadership in philanthropy, media and campaigning and established ties to law and politics to give the best premium advice which is hard to find elsewhere.
I’ve advised leading philanthropists and foundations. Examples have included:
Advising the Pears family for a decade as the executive director of Pears Foundation
Mentoring the CEO of a new family foundation committed to social justice and good funding practice
Shaping Changing Ideas initiatives, projects and grants
I am a co-founder of philanthropic initiatives:
Law for Change funds legal actions in the public interest helping under represented people and communities gain access to justice. Over 80 precedent setting cases funded to date drawing on the sound legal expertise of a 115 strong expert legal panel
The Tenacious Awards funds and supports the UK’s leading public interest campaigners and journalists and celebrates their contribution to society at large
Campaign for Equal Civil Partnerships
In 2014, I walked into a central London registry office to formalise my relationship with my partner, Dr Rebecca Steinfeld. The registrar told us that civil partnerships were only available to same-sex couples.
The difference in treatment between couples based on sexual orientation prevented over 3 million cohabitating couples in the UK from having the choice of a civil partnership. That seemed wrong and unjustified. And it turned out it was also unlawful - an act of unjustified discrimination.
A 5-0 legal ruling in the UK Supreme Court in Steinfeld and Keidan v Secretary of State made history. It paved the way for change with the government backing legislation giving different sex couples the choice of a civil partnership. Rebecca and I became civil partners at Chelsea Registry Office - the same one which previously refused us five years earlier - on the 31st December 2019.
Since then, thousands of couples have become civil partners with legal security and protections and a formalised alternative to marriage.
The hard won campaign for equal civil partnerships built alliances across the political spectrum. It used legal action, petitions, crowd funding and philanthropic backing - all to achieve change for the benefit of society.
Conservative Equalities minister Penny Mourdant called the effort ‘an act of public service’. Peter Tatchell, whose campaigning for same sex marriage paved the way for our victory, hailed the campaign as ‘a model of effective activism’.
The experience taught me about the shortcomings of mainline philanthropy but also the potential to combine philanthropy, campaigning and legal action for change. I now use my experiences, insights, and networks to help philanthropists be bold and strategic, and work effectively to tackle injustice.
PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo
