The National Council for Voluntary Organisations’ Small Charities Advisory Panel has appointed five new members to ensure it is exclusively made up of small charity representatives.

These appointments to the SCAP, which is led by the NCVO and seeks to strengthen the voice of small charities in policy- and decision-making, come after a review of the panel’s role last year, which led to a strategic shift to ensure the panel consists solely of small charity representatives.

The new members are Nasar Iqbal, founder and director of Black Country Innovate CIC;  Kate Little, deputy chief executive of CVS Cheshire East; Jumoke Quadri, chief executive of Nurturing Foundations, Kynton Swingle, community development manager of the Fox Hollies Community Association; and Bill Yuksel, trustee at the Mindera UK Foundation.

NCVO said: “These new members join an experienced panel of small charity leaders, all dedicated to ensuring that small voluntary organisations are better resourced, valued and connected. 

“By 2028, SCAP aims to see small charities better supported to deliver their vital work, understood by decision-makers, and meaningfully engaged in policy and funding discussions.”

The appointees replaced Maddy Desforges, chief executive of the local infrastructure body Navca; Shahed Molvi, head of grants at the Leeds Community Foundation; and Sara Sellek, assistant director at the Wales Council for Voluntary Action.

These three panelists stepped down from their posts to create new opportunities for small charity voices to participate as part of a planned transition process, according to the NCVO.

Desforges, Molvi and Sellek all played a “key role” in the review and the recruitment process, the organisation said.

Vicki Beevers, co-chair of the SCAP, said: “Small charities continue to face enormous pressures, with increasing demand on their services but fewer resources. Communities experiencing significant hardship rely on these organisations for essential support. We must ensure that these charities not only survive but thrive. 

“The Small Charities Advisory Panel plays a crucial role in advocating for change, and I’m delighted to welcome new members who will help drive this work forward.”

Angela Spence, observer to the SCAP and chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea Social Council, said: “Attending the first in-person meeting of the newly formed panel, I saw first-hand the dedication of its members. 

“As both an NCVO trustee and the chief executive of a local infrastructure body, I understand the daily challenges small charities face. The panel is a vital space for ensuring their voices are heard, strengthening collaboration and advocating for the support they need. I’m pleased to be part of this work and look forward to its continued impact.”