Leading coaching and coach training organisation, Barefoot Coaching, has recognised a significant uptake in its coaching services from those operating in the third sector, as a growing number of charities and not-for-profit organisations recognise the value of investing in team development.
In the past six months, the leading UK coaching firm has seen a 25 per cent increase in enquiries from third sector organisations of all sizes looking to introduce coaching into their workplaces.
It comes at a time when the charity sector continues to face challenges with reduced team numbers. In 2022, the UK charity workforce shrank by about four per cent, and with the majority of voluntary sector employees already working in smaller organisations with fewer than 50 paid staff members[1], more so than ever charities are challenged with optimising the internal support available.
This is where the benefits of coaching come into play, as Kelly Wood, Director of Workplace Coaching at Barefoot Coaching, explained: “Coaching is designed to unlock the potential within someone, which is incredibly powerful when used within any workplace. It can be particularly beneficial for those within the third sector who may need to develop how efficiently and effectively their organisation is run. Coaching can help to drive team collaboration and boost creativity and innovation while operating with leaner budgets.
“We are seeing more organisations turning to us for unique support, particularly where there is a focus on professional and personal balance, creating a space where personal and professional goals can be worked on together. Leaders recognise that coaching enables this, and the investment continues to grow.”
Barefoot is renowned for its corporate coaching support, having worked with some of the biggest names in business including Amazon, Channel 4 and Lloyds Banking Group. Yet Barefoot prides itself on making coaching accessible to everyone, with its partnerships with charities and not-for-profit organisations as a leading example.
Kelly explained how the Barefoot Coaching team work closely on building partnerships, always understanding the wider context of an organisation’s needs. The team works with business leaders to understand their strategies and scope possibilities, all while being mindful of budgets. This enables their partners to invest effectively.
Kelly added: “Each partnership is incredibly personal, and we recognise that spending money is very precious in this sector, so with every programme we tailor, we ensure that we make the most of their investment and they can see and feel results.
“From increased colleague satisfaction and retention of employees to working through challenges and difficult topics without judgement or consequences, promoting collaboration to be more creative, and being action orientated to make things happen – coaching has so many benefits for those within the third sector and it’s incredibly rewarding to see so many organisations experience this first hand.”
Barefoot Coaching has recently started work with a number of third sector organisations, all of which are focused on 1-2-1 coaching programmes for their emerging and established leaders. The organisations expect to see their teams evolve in a particularly challenging time for the sector, when they are constantly challenged with doing more, with fewer resources.
One business leader said: “Creativity is key for us, and we expect coaching to help unlock some of that potential.”
Barefoot Coaching has trained over 6,000 coaches from 28 different countries around the world, with this number continuing to grow every year. In addition, the business boasts a dedicated team of 150 associate coaches.
[1] https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/sector-income-down-first-time-10-years-research-finds/management/article/1840408
