Interview: Gerald Oppenheim

Podcast: David Holdsworth

The latest Civil Society Podcast episode has been published with David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission. In this interview, Holdsworth discusses increasing casework for the regulator, mooted new powers for it to clamp down on extremism, the debate over paying trustees and the need to boost philanthropy in the UK, among other areas.

Podcast: Jen Shang

In this episode, Civil Society spoke to Jen Shang about her book Meaningful Philanthropy. We discussed the psychology behind giving, donor motivations, engagement strategies for charities and moral conviction, among other subject areas.

Interview: Gerald Oppenheim

The Fundraising Regulator chief executive talks the recently revised Fundraising Code of Practice, the new soft opt-in rules, AI in fundraising, and more... Editor's note: This podcast was recorded at the end of January 2026, prior to the formal implementation of the soft opt-in rules in early February 2026.

Interview: Anand Shukla and Emma de Closset

Anand Shukla, chief executive of the Henry Smith Foundation, and Emma de Closset, chief executive of UK Community Foundations, discuss their thoughts, feelings and reflections on their new partnership and the expansion of the care leavers’ programme so far; the benefits of multi-year funding; the importance of creativity in grantmaking; the role of community foundations and the future of place-based philanthropy in the UK.

Interview: Lily Caswell and Jo Turner

A new episode of the Civil Society Podcast has been published today, featuring an interview with Lily Caswell, head of retail and volunteering, and Jo Turner, chief executive of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity