Time to Shine
A leadership programme for people who are just starting their career in the social sector to develop skills and confidence.
Since 2011, there have been almost 700 Time to Shine leaders. Each leader is employed by a charitable organisation in the UK and participate in residentials, action learning sets and leadership workshops.
The programme was set up in 2008 in response to the impact of the impending recession on Rank's Network.
The programme continued to run throughout the covid-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis, offering vital support to smaller charities by bridging organisational gaps in times of great uncertainty.
In 2019 and 2020 we received grants from The National Lottery Community Fund and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to expand the programme and support charities as they emerged from the pandemic.
Time To Shine
Impact Film
Its purpose is twofold:
- To give individuals with the right skills and approach the experience of a 12-month paid leadership and development placement in a charity
- To fill developmental or skills gaps in smaller charities by identifying a project that can be completed in 12-months
Time to Shine aims to develop capacity and bring about sustainable improvements to the charity’s performance while improving employment prospects and building interest in career opportunities within the social sector.
The leadership programme incorporates personal development activities for both the Time to Shine (T2S) leader and their line manager. This includes attending residential events. The T2S leader will also take part in Action Learning sets throughout the year and can benefit from additional support provided by an experienced mentor from within the Rank Network.
Both line manager and T2S leader will have access to RankNet, Rank Network's online platform, providing further networking, training and development opportunities and sector support.
Each year charities are invited to apply, outlining a priority, organisational development gap and what difference a leader would make in addressing this need.
Charities are shortlisted and then the charity identifies an individual with the skills and talent to carry out the leadership programme.
At the start of Time to Shine the line manager and leader are both invited to a launch conference. This is important as it is an opportunity to learn about Time Shine and meet the other leaders and line managers. Through this meeting new support networks are often built.
Each Time to Shine placement is designed around the needs of the charity. It offers the opportunity to test new areas of work that may lead to a permanent post or new system (not funded by Rank).
Charities and social enterprises address many significant and deep-seated problems in society such as bullying, knife crime, food poverty, loneliness and rural isolation.
The host organisations may face different challenges but share similar organisational needs, such as marketing, finance, fundraising, research, social media and I.T. systems.
Time to Shine Leaders are recruited for their skills and work ethic, to address business needs. Over the 12-month period, they improve the host charities capacity for the longer term.
Traditionally organisations are invited to apply for the scheme by Rank's staff team.
Applying organisations must meet regional and thematic criteria set by The Rank Foundation and shared on invitation to apply.
The next Time to Shine programme starts in April 2027.
Meet Time To Shine Leaders 2026
Futures in Film CIC
Ateeb Malik
Technical and Production Lead
Lindley Educational Trust
Ben Waller
Youth Development Officer
Rural Media Charity
Buchanan Sigrist
Creative Youth Development Producer
St. Michael's Youth Project
Charlie Mould
Health & Well-being Practitioner
Fine Cell Work
Clem Dyer
Hub Production Coordinator
Elgin Youth Development Group
Codi Maguire
Wellbeing Youth Worker
Pallion Action Group
Dana Taylorson
Digital Inclusion Support Officer
Reaching Higher
David Fianko-Williams
Youth Voice Development Officer
Madlug
Elise McClelland
Communications and Marketing Intern
Escape2Make
Elsa Medd-Stengel
Creative Communities Co-Ordinator
Lifespace Trust
Emily Pearson
Youth Engagement & Communications Officer
OPEN
Emma Coutts
More than a Troublemaker
Glór na Móna
Eoghan Ó Conghaile
Community Outreach Officer
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Esmé Holme
Programme Support Officer
Nudge Community Builders
Federico Buda
City Farmhouse Development Lead
The Wellness Collective NE
Gaynor Lewis
Events Coordinator
International Community Organisation of Sunderland
Ghaidaa Mustapha
Fundraising and Communication Specialist
Plymouth Scrapstore
Grace Philpott
Community Engagement
Team Domenica
Grace Thomas
Partnership and Fundraising Officer
People and Work Unit
Hayley Fellows
Trainee Wellbeing Leader
Kids On Track
Holly Purcell
Marketing Consultant
Wellbeing Works Dundee
Jaime Frew
Co-production Development Worker
We Mind The Gap
Jared Kruger
Data & Digital Support Officer
The People's Orchestra
Joshua Simpson
Communications Officer
brainstrust
Joshua Timms
Digital Engagement Officer
Soft Touch Arts
Kat Daras
Young People's Support Worker Intern
Migrate Art
Kayra Uguz
Project Coordinator
Greenhill YMCA
Keelan Harrison
Youth Camps Leader
Children and Families Across Borders
Lara van der Horst
Digital Engagement and Outreach Lead
Nexus NI
Lera Gorobchuk
Therapeutic Support Services Assistant
Senses Wellbeing Centre
Lucy Rutledge
Centre Support Officer
Stomping Grounds North East
Lydia Helliwell
Educational Development Coordinator
Sunshine Co-operative
Lydia Mason
Events & Promotions Officer
Woodsmith Foundation
Mabel Mundy
Grants and Programmes Officer
Equality Action Ltd
Madina Ibrahim
Young Women’s Development Officer
Suicide&Co
Mahnoor Ahmed
Corporate Partnership Officer
Four Greens Community Trust
Mark Roskilly
Business Engagement Lead
SELFA Children's Charity
Maya Whitton
Youth Development Worker
Sunderland Training and Education Farm Ltd
Melisssa Bradburn
Events Co-ordinator
Voice 21
Molly Hanson
Partnerships Coordinator
We Make Culture
Rafael Bagott
Youth Engagement Officer
Cash For Kids
Rosie Dale
Charity Fundraising Executive
Manchester Young Lives
Ruth Mills
Campaign Communications Lead
The Advantage Foundation
Sam Kennedy
Environmental Education Officer
Easington Lane Community Access Point
Sarah Trotter
Operations Lead
Switch Up CIC
Shabaz Baz
Data & IT Support Officer
MCR Pathways
Skye Ross
Impact and Design Leader
Horatio's Garden
Susie France
Stories and Impact Assistant
HARV Housing
Tobey Devonport
Time to Shine Worker
Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership
Toni Watkins
Hut Development Officer
Shiney Advice and Resource Project
Will Bryan
Digital Inclusion Lead
Age UK Milton Keynes
William Acquaye
AI Researcher
UK Acumen Academy
Xing Xu
Communications and Operations Officer
Dark Horse Theatre
Zoe Solomon
Data & Reporting Analyst
News and Stories
Blog Post: “Bringing My Whole Self to the Room: Lessons from Liverpool with Time to Shine”
Blog Post: “My time at the Rank Foundation: Supportive Leadership”
Blog Post: “A New Chapter – My First Steps as a Time to Shine Leader”