Lee Hemmings, CEO of Fight for Peace, diarises what leadership means for him.
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Lee Hemmings has been CEO of Fight for Peace - a youth sport for development charity that
operates locally in east London and globally - since October 2023. Before landing this role,
his career has been in the finance and football industry. What drew him to an organisation
such as this was its mission to empower young people through a holistic vision of combining
combat sports (such as boxing and martial arts) with employability support, educational
opportunities, youth mentoring, and youth leadership opportunities.
Every week at Fight for Peace is different, but the drive is always the same. This isn't a diary
of tasks; it’s a fast-paced journey where purpose and people are at the heart of every
decision. Leadership at Fight for Peace is about staying grounded in our mission, even as
the world around us shifts - a challenge and a privilege I navigate every single day. With this
in mind, instead of describing my week in the parameters of the usual Monday to Friday
routine, I’ll instead illustrate it through commonalities and challenges.
Leading in Real Time
One of the defining challenges of leading an NGO like Fight for Peace is the constant need
to adapt without losing our way. Over the last two years, we've become far more vigilant and
risk aware, prepared for speed bumps but remaining steadfast. The reality is that most
challenges come with a financial cost and in the current environment robust budgeting is
hugely important. Right now, there’s very little room to invest in new areas of the
organisation. This can feel difficult when funders are often looking for innovation and staff
want to see ambition. The reality is that our methodology has been tried and tested for over
25 years, and our focus has to be on continuing to deliver excellence. What helps is being
open about this and finding ways to show that even within an organic approach, there is
space for real improvement and excitement.
Local Community Moments to Big Strategic Changes
Our Academy in east London is where our local community work takes place and this is
where I base myself throughout the week. Seeing our services in action everyday, allows me
to see our impact and what needs improvement. For instance, I was extremely moved to see
a mother drop off one son and then leave with another who used a wheelchair. It highlighted
a significant gap in our programming, as we were unable to offer sessions for all young
people, regardless of ability. This experience fueled our determination to create a dedicated
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) class at Fight for Peace, which launched
in April 2024. I'm incredibly proud to say that many of our coaches have since been trained
to work with children of all abilities, ensuring our programme is more inclusive and
accessible.
Making the Mission Real
Making the mission real and reminding others of it is key to the way I lead. I ask myself daily:
'Is everything we do - from a fundraising email to a new partnership - aligned with our Theory
of Change?' Our Theory of Change is a blueprint that details the organisation's inputs, target
groups, activities, and outcomes. It governs and justifies every decision.
Yet our theory feels meaningless without the stories of young people that bring its impact to
life. One memorable story that I often recall is one young person, who was referred to Fight
for Peace for support with her mental health. The lessons and growth I saw from her at our
Academy was incredible - she went from strength to strength, progressing from a member
into a youth worker. Her story, and many others, are a constant reminder to myself and the
team of why we do what we do.
Unseen Labour of Leadership
There are many aspects of leadership that are rarely visible and the resilience this role
demands is easy to overlook. You read lots of stuff about showing up and it's more important
than you realise, especially when you need to be the one to set the example. This requires
perseverance, but thankfully, I’m not in this role alone. I have a fantastic operational
leadership team that are all Fight for Peace stalwarts, as well as a good relationship with our
chair and our board of trustees who act as a source of counsel and guidance.
Closing Reflections
At Fight for Peace we’re focused on a global and local impact. This combination makes us
somewhat unique, but it also means the challenge is in bringing everything together. Every
week, needs evolve quickly, and the funding environment changes even faster than a
strategic plan can anticipate. That forces us - me as a leader, and the organisation as a
whole - to stay adaptable, while ensuring our resources and focus remain aligned to our
mission. Whatever each week brings, our mission is our true north, a clear and unwavering
reminder that our work is about supporting young people to reach their full potential.
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