Awen Coaching Resources

Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

You Cannot Build a Healthy Charity by Sacrificing Yourself at the Centre of it

You cannot build a healthy, neuro-inclusive, values-led organisation by sacrificing yourself at the centre of it. When a charity leader is permanently braced, making decisions from adrenaline and absorbing every “urgent” demand, the whole system feels it. Breathing room is not indulgent. It is structural. It changes how decisions are made, how responsibility is shared, and whether leadership is sustainable. If everything wobbles the moment you step back, that is not strength. It is fragility. And it is allowed to change.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Grow Without the Grind: Making AI Work for Your Fundraising and Your Well-Being

AI hasn’t arrived in a calm environment. It has landed in the middle of a sector already stretched by rising targets, growing expectations, and emotionally demanding work. That’s why the question isn’t whether fundraisers should use AI, but how we choose to engage with it in ways that protect our values and our well-being.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Choosing Your Path in the Charity Sector

Choosing between working in-house at a charity or freelancing in the sector isn’t about which path is better, but which one fits you. This piece explores the difference between depth and breadth, the immersion and continuity of in-house roles versus the variety and autonomy of freelance work, offering an honest look at the pros and cons of each. A reflective read for anyone navigating their next career step and clarifying their north star in the charity sector.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

The Secret Engine: Why Charity Freelancers Are Unnoticed, Undervalued, and Absolutely Essential

Freelancers in the charity sector, you know who you are. Perhaps you support an organisation for one day a week, or you work across three small charities in a month. You bring specialist skills (fundraising, membership, community partnerships) and deliver real impact. And yet… far too often you are unnoticed, even undervalued. Not by your clients (well, maybe sometimes), but by the wider sector narrative.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Grow Without the Grind: Building Supporter Relationships That Feel Good

Growth doesn’t have to mean endless hustle. In this practical session, Bethany Helliwell-Smith, founder of Awen Coaching (a coach for charity professionals), and Alex Fearon, founder of Maybe Later (an email marketing and supporter journey expert), show you how to attract, engage, and retain supporters in a sustainable, authentic, and energising way.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Leading with Resistance: Finding Strength in Impossible Decisions

2025 has been a tough year for social impact leaders. Funding pulled without warning. Restructures handled without care. Decisions where every path carries a cost. In times like these, clarity doesn’t come from rushing—it comes from pausing, reconnecting with your values, and trusting your own judgement.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

A Slow and Balanced Life Doesn’t Mean You Lack Ambition.

Slowing down doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re choosing a different path—one that’s rooted in clarity, focus, and long-term impact. A slow and balanced life isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s a powerful, intentional choice to do your work well and stay well while doing it.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

How to Be a Role Model for Well-Being in Your Charity.

This blog emphasises the importance of setting clear work-life boundaries, incorporating regular reflection, and prioritising self-care. By demonstrating these practices, you not only prevent burnout but also foster a supportive and resilient work environment, ultimately enhancing your charity's impact.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Sustainability is a Well-Being Issue for the Charity Sector

Embracing the concept that “Sustainability is about Well-Being” is not just a shift in thinking—it’s a necessary evolution. The success of charity organisations is deeply intertwined with the well-being of those who drive their missions.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Ignite Change: A Transformative Journey for Charity Professionals

This blog post explores the common challenges faced by charity professionals and introduces an opportunity to ignite change through a transformative workshop. Register Now for the Ignite Change Workshop and embark on a journey to overcome challenges, reignite your passion, and create a fulfilling career in the charity sector.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Mastering Effective Meeting Facilitation for Charity Professionals

Effective meeting facilitation is a skill we can refine and master. This topic comes up during my Coaching and Leadership Strategy sessions. I'm thrilled to share some practical guidance on agenda setting, facilitating conversations, ensuring inclusivity, asking open questions, and much more!

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

Testimonial from Raphael Rowe: Bethany's coaching is commendable.

As host of Netflix's 'Inside the World's Toughest Prisons' Raphael Rowe brings the stories of inmates and their struggles to a global audience, through his Foundation his ultimate goal is to promote positive change in prisons worldwide and uphold basic human rights for all. As his coach, I led Raphael through 6 months of support, resulting in the clarity and confidence to articulate the mission of his foundation.

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Bethany Helliwell-Smith Bethany Helliwell-Smith

15 Ways to Create a Healthy Work Culture in the Charity Sector

A positive work environment not only enhances team morale but also contributes to the overall effectiveness of the charity's mission. In this blog post, I will provide valuable guidance on how charity leaders can create and maintain a healthy working culture within their organisations.

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