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The Charity Show · Nov 10, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

Rethinking inclusion: RNIB and Scope on embedding lived experience in charities - with Anna Tylor & Mark Hodgkinson

In this episode, Tim and Piers are joined by two of the sector’s leading voices on disability inclusion: Anna Tylor, Chair of the Board of Trustees at RNIB Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Scope, the disability equality charity. Together, they discuss the evolution of inclusion - from challenging stereotypes to transforming public attitudes - and how two of the UK’s biggest charities are leading the way in terms of embedding lived experience into all aspects of their work. In this episode, we explore: ♿ Why lived experience in leadership matters and how RNIB and Scope bring disabled voices into decision-making. 🧭 How boards can keep inclusion on the agenda without slipping into tick-box territory. 💬 Moving from compliance to culture - what true accessibility looks like day to day. 📈 The disability employment gap - why it’s still stubbornly wide and what needs to change. 🤝 Allyship and collaboration - how non-disabled and disabled colleagues can drive change together. 🧠 Tech and inclusion - opportunities, risks and why AI could be a game-changer for accessibility. 🛠 Simple steps every charity can take to become more inclusive. Tim and Piers look at the Poppy Appeal, now more than a century old, reflecting on its huge reach and the lasting support it provides for veterans and their families. They also discuss new CAF research showing two-thirds of charity leaders believe the sector’s health is “unwell,” with rising demand, burnout and financial strain topping the list. Finally, they touch on Mind’s latest report warning of a worsening youth mental-health crisis, with more young people struggling and long waits for help. This week’s Small Charity Spotlight features Footprints Baby Loss, a small, volunteer-led charity offering peer support and training for families and health professionals after baby loss, and Contact, the long-standing charity helping families with disabled children through advice, practical support and campaigning for better rights and services. Useful links RNIB – rnib.org.uk Scope – scope.org.uk Footprints Baby Loss Contact (for families with disabled children) – contact.org.uk Royal British Legion (Poppy Appeal) Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) – sector wellbeing / reports – cafonline.org Mind – youth mental health research – mind.org.uk The Good Studio – thegoodstudio.co.uk Get involved: Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecharityshowpod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Send a voice message to TheCharityShow⁠⁠ Find every link you need: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/thecharityshow⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Enjoyed the episode? Leave a five-star review and follow/subscribe to support the show! 💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK. This episode is produced by ⁠⁠The Good Studio⁠⁠ – Creating great content for good causes.From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at ⁠⁠www.thegoodstudio.co.uk ⁠⁠

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show notes

In this episode, Tim and Piers are joined by two of the sector’s leading voices on disability inclusion:

  • Anna Tylor, Chair of the Board of Trustees at RNIB

  • Mark Hodgkinson, Chief Executive of Scope, the disability equality charity.

Together, they discuss the evolution of inclusion - from challenging stereotypes to transforming public attitudes - and how two of the UK’s biggest charities are leading the way in terms of embedding lived experience into all aspects of their work.

In this episode, we explore:

  • ♿ Why lived experience in leadership matters and how RNIB and Scope bring disabled voices into decision-making.

  • 🧭 How boards can keep inclusion on the agenda without slipping into tick-box territory.

  • 💬 Moving from compliance to culture - what true accessibility looks like day to day.

  • 📈 The disability employment gap - why it’s still stubbornly wide and what needs to change.

  • 🤝 Allyship and collaboration - how non-disabled and disabled colleagues can drive change together.

  • 🧠 Tech and inclusion - opportunities, risks and why AI could be a game-changer for accessibility.

  • 🛠 Simple steps every charity can take to become more inclusive.


Tim and Piers look at the Poppy Appeal, now more than a century old, reflecting on its huge reach and the lasting support it provides for veterans and their families. They also discuss new CAF research showing two-thirds of charity leaders believe the sector’s health is “unwell,” with rising demand, burnout and financial strain topping the list. Finally, they touch on Mind’s latest report warning of a worsening youth mental-health crisis, with more young people struggling and long waits for help.

This week’s Small Charity Spotlight features Footprints Baby Loss, a small, volunteer-led charity offering peer support and training for families and health professionals after baby loss, and Contact, the long-standing charity helping families with disabled children through advice, practical support and campaigning for better rights and services.


Useful links

Get involved:

  • Listen to The Charity Show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform


💡 If you enjoyed this episode, hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app, and please leave us a five-star rating — it helps more people find conversations with real charity experts across the UK.


This episode is produced by ⁠⁠The Good Studio⁠⁠ – Creating great content for good causes.From podcasts and campaigns to film and copywriting, The Good Studio helps charities tell powerful stories that make people care.👉 Find out more at ⁠⁠www.thegoodstudio.co.uk ⁠⁠




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