When I applied for this programme, I had somehow found myself in a leadership role at New Carnival (more by accident than design). My previous career as a primary school teacher gave me plenty of transferable skills, and there were many aspects of the role I felt confident with, but the concept of being a ‘leader’ was strangely new to me.
Running a Community Interest Company with a small team in a challenging financial landscape brought a whole new set of demands. I found myself wearing so many hats, trying to do everything at once, and feeling that none of it was as effective as it could be if I could just focus. I applied to the programme with one main goal: learning how to prioritise and delegate.
Since the programme started in March, life at New Carnival has continued at its usual breathless, brilliant pace. One thing I love about this work is the variety and energy of juggling multiple projects. But the CAN YOU HEAR US? Leadership Programme has provided much-needed time and space to stand still, step back, and look at the bigger picture. Over two full-day sessions, we’ve explored what leadership actually means, how to balance work and life (still a work in progress!), and how storytelling can be a powerful force for change.
As part of the programme, we were given a budget for either mentoring or a ‘Go See’ trip to learn from another organisation. I chose the trip and travelled up to Manchester to spend three days with Global Grooves. I’ve loved following their work on Instagram for years; they share many similarities with New Carnival, but on a larger scale, with a firmly established commercial side.
The trip was inspirational in so many ways. First, the warmth and generosity of the team, artists, and young people had a huge impact on me: creative people really are the best! Second, it was reassuring to see that despite their size, they face the exact same hurdles: no matter how much space you have – storage is always an issue, and writing funding applications is relentless. Sharing our journey with their team and hearing their insights was invaluable. It was also deeply validating when I shared my thoughts on where New Carnival needs to focus next, and they agreed. Sometimes you know what you need to do, but you need to hear someone else say, “Yes, you’re right – do that” to quiet the noise in your head.
The most impactful part of the trip was meeting the young leaders at Jubacana. I was blown away by their confidence, articulation, and energy. Talking to Holly, who runs the programme, reinforced that nurturing creative leaders isn’t a quick fix; it takes sustained commitment over several years and having the time and space to build real connections.
This programme, and my trip to Manchester, came at a crucial turning point for New Carnival. As we say goodbye to our long-term Creative Producer, Gina, who is moving on to an exciting new chapter, we are re-evaluating our team’s roles and responsibilities.
Through this process, and alongside a new opportunity to develop my own art teaching, I’ve had to accept something fundamental: while I can turn my hand to workshop delivery, teaching, social media, web updates, email newsletters, project management, and bid writing, I cannot do all of them and expect to do any of them justice.
So, from next week, I am taking off a few of those hats. I am reducing my hours at New Carnival to part-time (0.5) and focusing almost exclusively on writing funding bids and long-term strategy. The reasoning behind this is that if I focus my energy here, we can secure more funding and commercial work, grow our core team, and give everyone the space to wear fewer hats and be more effective.
I am handing over social media and hands-on delivery to other team members so that in my two and a half days a week, I can focus entirely on driving us toward our bigger vision. I am sure I will still be pulled in many different directions, and by necessity, as our team is so small, there will still be hats that I have to pop on every now and then, but having this as my main focus and a clear goal feels refreshing, as I can finally see a clear path, rather than hundreds of different winding ones before me.
Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CAN YOU HEAR US? leadership programme. It came at precisely the right moment I needed it most, giving me not just the tools, but the clarity and confidence to step into my role as a leader on my own terms. The insights, connections, and space to think have already reshaped how I approach my work, and the ripple effect will, I hope, be felt across New Carnival for a long time to come.
