A new podcast and online community is giving voice to the emotional labour behind the UK’s social impact work, and reminding nonprofit professionals they’re not alone, as founder Louise Dawtry explains.
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There’s a quiet kind of strength that runs through the UK nonprofit sector. It’s found in the frontline workers, the ones tirelessly striving for better outcomes for those they support. The volunteers that come together from all walks of life to give back. And the people that saw a need not being met and decided to do something about it

All of these people carry stories that never make it into annual reports. It’s this strength, and the emotional labour often hidden, within it that inspired me to create What’s the Charitea?

What’s the Chari-tea? (or WTC for short) is a new online community and podcast for all nonprofit people. As someone who works in HR for a mental health charity, I’ve spent years listening to the stories that rarely get told; the burnout, the breakthroughs, the moments of doubt, and the deep sense of purpose that keeps people going. I started WTC because I wanted to build a space where nonprofit professionals and volunteers alike could feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Not just for what they do, but for who they are.

The podcast, launching this autumn, is an extension of that mission. Each episode features real voices from across the sector; people who’ve given their time, energy, and heart to causes that matter. We talk about the messy, beautiful reality of nonprofit life; the emotional highs and lows, the unexpected lessons, and the quiet wins that rarely make headlines.

This isn’t a podcast about strategy or metrics. It’s about humanity. It’s about the people who hold up our social safety nets, often while navigating their own challenges. It’s about creating a space where listeners can exhale, feel affirmed, and remember that they’re not alone.

WTC is not another tool or framework. It’s a reminder that wellbeing, connection, and community care are not luxuries, they’re necessities. Especially now when the sector is stretched so thin. Funding pressures, rising demand, and emotional fatigue are taking a toll. But beneath all that, there’s still hope and joy and a deep desire to make things better. WTC is here to hold space for that.

Whether you’re a CEO, a volunteer, a comms lead, or someone who wants to learn more about the sector, this podcast is for you. It’s for the nonprofit humans who give generously, often quietly, and deserve to be heard.

You can follow WTC on Instagram @whatsthecharitea and subscribe to the newsletter on Substack for updates, reflections, and resources. The first podcast episode drops today (9 September) and we’d love to have you with us.

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