This International Women’s Day, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the incredible women leaders and managers in the charity sector who make a real difference to people and communities every single day. Charities provide vital services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and at the heart of much of the sector’s work are women who lead, inspire and take action.
The charity sector tackles society’s biggest problems, from poverty to opportunity and everything in between. Women are at the forefront of the sector, bringing their passion, empathy, and determination to help those who need it most.
Women make up over 60% of the UK’s charity workforce, they’re not just involved – they’re leading the way. Whether it's frontline workers, volunteers, or leaders steering organisations through tough times, women have played a huge part in shaping the charity sector into what it is today.
At Cranfield Trust, we’re particularly proud of the female leaders who’ve made such a difference to our organisation and the charity sector as a whole. As our CEO, Amanda Tincknell, gets ready to retire after an amazing 25 years, we want to celebrate her huge impact on both our charity and the wider sector.
Under Amanda’s leadership, Cranfield Trust has grown and developed, offering a range of management services to complement charity leaders’ and managers’ own skills, and to support them through good times and tough times. Her vision, dedication, and commitment to helping others have been central to everything we’ve achieved. She has built a team – including some very talented and committed women – who have together worked with hundreds of volunteers to support thousands of charities.
As CEO of the Trust, Amanda has had the privilege of witnessing the profound impact of charities’ work:
“I’ve been fortunate to engage with many aspects of the voluntary sector. My journey with Cranfield Trust has deepened my understanding of our society and of the scale and complexity of the challenges addressed by charities. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some really wonderful women in our staff team, at Board level, our volunteers, and through our work with funders and donors – and not just women!
Early in my involvement with Cranfield Trust, I was fortunate enough to attend the AGM of a women’s refuge that Cranfield Trust had worked with. At the AGM, a woman who, with her two young children, had escaped a violent relationship, talked about how the charity had supported her. She told us how, thanks to their support, she had been able to continue her education and develop her career. Her strength and resilience were incredible, she had transformed her life in the safe environment of the refuge, and, in time, had become one of their staff team – while bringing up her children as a single parent. I know a lot of people who work in the voluntary sector have a particular person or experience they remember, someone who inspired us, or something which motivates us. That woman is the person who did this for me early on.
Amanda reflects,
“That experience reinforced my commitment to our mission at Cranfield Trust, and made me want to do everything I can for people and organisations like that refuge. I’m grateful to that woman – and I'll never forget her story.”
Thank you, Amanda, for everything you’ve done – and a huge thank you to all the women in the charity sector, both now and in the past, for inspiring us all. We’re proud to be part of a sector that gives women (and others of course!) the chance to lead, give back, and be the change-makers we need.
