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“Last Christmas I gave you my heart” – 6 lessons for charities from ‘festive’ records
Richard Sved Panel Director at 3rd Sector Mission Control Posted 8 years ago
You don’t need me to tell you. It's been another tough year for those of us working in charities.
To put a smile on our faces, I thought I’d lighten the mood just a little.
As I write this blog, it’s a week and a half until Christmas, so I’m going to play you a few of my favourite ‘festive’ records, and reflect on what charities can learn from them.
Are you ready? Got the volume up? OK, here goes!
1. How about some #donorlove in the New Year?
Last Christmas, by Wham!
Last Christmas, by Wham!
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
OK, so some might find this song a little cheesy, but listen to it again. Imagine lovelorn George as a donor who gave to your charity last Christmas appeal, but was left feeling neglected. Did you treat him right? Did you let him know what his support enabled you to achieve? Let’s make sure we love and cherish our supporters – even George. Or this year, to save them from tears, they’ll give to someone else – someone who makes them feel special.
2. Think about the front line in 2016
Stop the Cavalry, by Jona Lewie
Stop the Cavalry, by Jona Lewie
If I get home, live to tell the tale
I’ll run for all presidencies
If I get elected I’ll stop, I will stop the cavalry
Wish I was at home for Christmas
This is one of my all-time favourites. I think there’s something about this soldier’s wistfulness, and his understanding that his wishes are just as important as the Prime Minister’s. Let’s remember that our supporters love us for what we’re doing on the front line. Letters from Chief Executives or celebrities are important in their way, but let’s not forget the power of the words of our colleagues who are doing the ‘real work’. Let’s bring them front and centre.
3. Remember the power of the individual next year
2000 Miles, by The pretenders
2000 Miles, by The pretenders
He’s gone, 2000 miles is very far
The snows falling down, it’s colder day by day
I miss you
I can hear people singing
It must be Christmas time
This is such a beautiful song. I think the power comes from its elegiac depiction of loneliness. She’s feels more alone because she can hear people enjoying themselves elsewhere, and her sadness is such that she had even forgotten what time of year it is. Let’s remember the impact of personal stories, the real-life words of people whose lives we have changed through our work. We can help them to join the other singers.
4. We’ll get nowhere by begging
Stay Another Day, by East 17
Stay Another Day, by East 17
Won’t you stay another day?
Oh don’t leave me alone like this
Won’t you stay another day?
My take on this song might be a little different from yours. But I don’t think Harvey is going to get very far with his pleas for his love to stay. Listen again. It’s all about him, isn’t it? And I think we can learn from the poor mite’s situation in our relationships with our supporters. Let’s make it worthwhile and enjoyable for them to stay with us. Let’s listen to them. Then maybe they’ll stay for more than another day.
5. Take stock. What have you done?
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
Happy Xmas (War is Over)
So this is Christmas and what have you done?
Another year over, a new one just begun.
OK, so this one may be mawkishly sentimental, but there is something in it for charities, I’d say. I don’t think we look back at what we’ve done enough. It’s been quite a bruising year for those of us working in the UK charity sector. But let’s not be too righteously indignant. Let’s make sure we take stock and learn our lessons, so that we can be stronger – and do better – in 2017.
6. Let’s build our dreams with others
Fairytale of New York, by The Pogues and Kirsty McColl
Fairytale of New York, by The Pogues and Kirsty McColl
– You took my dreams from me when I first found you
– I kept them with me babe, I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone, I’ve built my dreams around you
For me, this is the key moment in a gorgeous song. They’ve just finished roundly insulting each other, when he surprises us with this burst of moving romanticism. The key lesson for the charity sector in these lines is that we need to work in partnership – with other charities, with our supporters, with our colleagues.
Only then will we take steps towards our vision. Let’s make it real, not a fairytale.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
- This blog was first published on 3rd Sector Mission Control
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