Head & Heart Leadership: Sophy Green on Running a Modern Charity That Works

Guest: Sophy Green, Chief Executive of Instant Neighbour, a 40-year Aberdeen charity and social enterprise. Sophy lifts the lid on balancing compassion with commercial discipline: running a food bank and the Giving Tree appeal, generating 85–90% of income through shops, an online store, joinery and carpet services, and delivering council contracts. We talk board governance (“nose in, hands off”), rising demand through the cost-of-living crisis, funding realities, and the tough calls—closing sites, restructuring, and still protecting frontline services. Sophy shares how she future-proofed with e-commerce, avoids “shiny object” projects by staying close to mission, and why leaders must chHead & Heart Leadership: Sophy Green on Running a Modern Charity That Workseck whether decisions are driven by the head or the heart. She credits coaching and regular “helicopter view” pauses for better choices, and ends with practical ways people can help this Christmas—volunteering, donating quality furniture, selection boxes, or money.