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#174 – Jon Sparkes

Published May 19, 2024

At the Sharp End of the Charity Sector

Prince William is building 24 sustainable homes on his Duchy of Cornwall land at Nansledan to provide temporary accommodation and support for some of the many people sleeping rough in the county, in partnership with homelessness charity St Petrocs. 

Jon Sparkes OBE is a trustee of St Petrocs; ran Crisis; Scope; is currently CEO of UNICEK UK and is about to move to Mencap, where he’ll be pushing for change for the 1.5 million people in Britain with learning disabilities.  

Jon shares his very personal story of why he ended up in the charity sector, reveals the frustrations and rewards it comes with, and discusses the depths we’ve fallen to in terms of social care policy, including the £7 billion pound reduction in spending on it over the last decade.