Lisa Johnstone, senior services manager at Advance, shares how her career in social care led to a role where strategic leadership meets life-changing support for women and girls.
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How did you land your current role, and what was your career path leading up to i?
I’ve always been passionate about supporting people to reach their potential and so have naturally gravitated toward roles where I can make a direct difference.

Before joining Advance, I worked at Fitzroy Charity and had had roles in social care, community services, or programme management, each one building on my experience in managing teams and shaping services. The opportunity at Advance felt like a perfect fit—somewhere I could bring both my strategic skills and my commitment to creating real, lasting impact. My role involves over seeing service managers and their team of keyworkers. This involves over seeing service delivery from 121 face to face sessions and group activities within our women’s centres in South Central and Bedfordshire. I also oversee the Diversion service which aims to divert women from the criminal justice system, that have experienced domestic abuse.


What is the most interesting part of your job?
No two days are ever the same! I get to balance the big-picture strategic work with the very human, day-to-day stories of the people we support. Seeing services evolve and knowing that we’re genuinely improving lives keeps the job endlessly rewarding and never boring.

What would be your alternative career?

If I weren’t in the charity sector, I’d probably be working full-time with horses and equine therapy. There’s something about the connection between humans and animals that’s transformative—I see huge potential for healing and growth there.

What inspired you to work in the charity sector?
It’s the people. I’ve always been drawn to roles where I can contribute to something bigger than myself. The charity sector allows me to work with purpose every single day, and that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.

What challenges do you face in your day-to-day work?
Like many in this sector, we’re constantly balancing ambition with resources. Funding constraints, increasing demand for services, and navigating complex systems can all be challenging. But those challenges also keep us creative and focused on what matters most.

What would make the biggest positive difference to the sector right now?
Sustainable funding and investment. A lot of amazing work is being done, but it often feels precarious. If the sector had the security of long-term funding, we could plan further ahead, innovate with confidence, and reach more people who need support.

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