Leading an environmental education charity means balancing robust governance with optimism and creativity. Catherine Cannon outlines the realities of charity leadership, from risk reviews and funding applications to partnerships that unlock impact.
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Catherine Cannon has led the Goodwood Education Trust since 2022. The Education Trust is an independent environmental education charity, operating on the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, West Sussex. The charity inspires a love and understanding of the natural environment and sustainable agriculture, connecting children and young people with nature, particularly those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable.

The charity celebrates its 50th birthday in 2026, and recognises that the importance of nature based outdoor learning is more important than ever, improving both mental and physical health.

Monday

I describe my role as being responsible for the people, the pounds, the policies, the partnerships and the party (as we’re 50 in 2026!). Today I complete our annual risk review, clarifying everything is up to date and that we are working as safely as we can. Ensuring we have external input provides evidence to back this up, so independent accreditation is valuable. I have a meeting with our management accountant to review the budget, and I’ve worked really hard to ensure we have wide and sustainable funding sources, which is reassuring to see. Like everyone else in this position, I keep a close eye on funding applications opening and closing. I triple check one today and ensure it is submitted. I remain both pessimistically realistic and wildly optimistic. I take a break from paperwork and visit one of our Forest School sessions, for children struggling in mainstream schooling. Walking through our woodland is a real tonic.

Tuesday

It’s really important to me that I’m not remote from our schools, so I try and visit our groups every day I’m in. This usually means I attend meetings smelling of wood-smoke or a bit muddy, which is quite normal. It’s great to have the time to chat to our team, to the school staff and listen to the students themselves. I’ve been serenaded, offered sausages, had a dance performed for me, and proudly been shown skills they’ve tried for the first time. Occasionally I’ll have the opportunity to deliver a farm tour, and so today I brushed up on my knowledge of cows (how much do cows drink? How much milk does a cow produce each day?) and helped with a primary school visit. For so many of the children (and often adults too) this will be the first time they’ve visited a farm, met an animal, or thought about where their food comes from. With school budgets stretched, we offer as many free trips as we can, to schools with high numbers of children eligible for means-tested Free School Meals or with Special Educational Needs, and support with coach travel too, as we know that’s a huge barrier.

Wednesday

I work part time, which means I have the opportunity to give back to my community through my unusual love for charitable governance. I’ve been a Trustee at Sage House, a local dementia support charity, since 2023, having previously been a co-Chair of Trustees at the Chichester Ship Canal Trust, a smaller volunteer-led charity. Today it’s our Services and HR Committee, giving Trustees the opportunity to work with staff to understand service needs, support for staff and identify future challenges and solutions. While being a Trustee undoubtedly brings legal responsibility, it’s a wonderful way to use my skills to support a cause I’m passionate about, and be a visible and supportive ambassador. This evening I’m invited to attend an event hosted by a local funder, which is a great opportunity to talk about our work and the impact we have.

Thursday

People are fascinated by what we do, and I always offer to host partnership visits because they can see the magic in person. They leave inspired by the woodland setting, the difference they can see in the students,

and of course they get a chance to see the cows. Today we’re hosting the High Sheriff, who has a particular interest in mental health and the charitable sector. He’s very happy chatting to staff and students from one of our local schools. I write up a press release including quotes for approval. In the afternoon, a local charity partner visits, and we find much common ground chewing over access to transport, the challenges of funding, safeguarding and reaching into schools. That peer support is so important.

Friday

My professional career for 25 years was in environmental management, water quality and sustainability, so making a career pivot to manage an education charity was quite a leap. To improve my knowledge of education, and particularly of children facing challenges in mainstream education, I volunteered as Governor at Releasing Potential, an Independent Special School. After a year, I’m now the Chair of the Governing Body. I’ve learnt a huge amount, and this has been very rewarding. I’ve helped focus our work so we are strong and supportive, adding value rather than adding work to the staff, and ensuring we keep the needs of the children at the heart of everything we do. Today is a Governing Body meeting, and I’ll be setting up a Monitoring Visit which gives me more chance to chat to staff and children in an informal manner.

In the afternoon I contribute my notes for the weekly team email at work, and make notes for my Trustees meeting next week.

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