The Small Charity
Organisational Resilience Kit

Our approach to organisational resilience has been evolving since 2019. It has grown through years of working alongside start-ups, charities and social enterprises as they design business models that can thrive in an ever-changing world. Every workshop, mentoring conversation and programme has deepened our understanding of what helps organisations navigate uncertainty, adapt to change and continue making a difference.

Over the years, we have continued to test, refine and strengthen this approach with organisations at every stage of their journey, from new ventures finding their feet to established charities navigating significant change. The result is a practical, evidence-informed framework that combines robust organisational thinking with the lived experience of leaders working in real-world conditions.

We're pleased to share some of that learning through a collection of resources created for the Organisational Resilience Programme for social leaders, supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation. Designed and delivered by Liz Pepler and Tom Watson, these materials offer a practical space to pause, reflect and strengthen your organisation's resilience.

For us, resilience-building is about paying attention to both the world around us and the world within our organisations. It means noticing change early, staying rooted in purpose, and creating the conditions that enable people, teams and organisations to adapt together. Like a murmuration of starlings, resilient organisations respond to changing conditions calmly, while remaining connected through shared purpose and trust.

At the heart of our methodology is a simple belief, resilience isn't about having all the answers or simply surviving difficult times. It's about creating the conditions in which people and organisations can continue to make social change happen, whatever lies ahead.

We hope these resources spark useful conversations, offer practical ideas and give you the confidence to keep strengthening your organisation. Whether you're just beginning your resilience-building journey or looking to deepen an existing practice, we hope they help you lead with care, clarity and hope.

All of our resources, including those below, are shared under a Creative Commons licence. This means you are welcome to use and share them for non-commercial purposes, provided the original branding is retained. You'll find further information about the licence within the workbooks.