How One Small Charity is Tackling Domestic Abuse in the North East: Catherine Marchant

In this episode of Chats with Changemakers, host Kate Duffy speaks with Catherine Marchant, CEO of Impact Family Services, a charity dedicated to supporting adults, children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Catherine shares her journey from the Civil Service into charity leadership and how a short-term role at Impact Family Services became a long-term mission to help break cycles of domestic abuse within local communities. The conversation explores the realities of leading a small charity, including funding challenges, income diversification, balancing multiple leadership roles, and the importance of workplace support for those experiencing domestic abuse. Catherine also reflects on the lessons she has learned throughout her career and why listening to yourself can be one of the most important leadership skills of all. Key Takeaways • Breaking the cycle of domestic abuse requires prevention, education and long-term family support. • Small charities can create significant impact through innovation, partnerships and community engagement. • Diversifying income streams is essential in an increasingly challenging funding environment. • Workplace domestic abuse training can help employers better support their staff. • Strong leadership relies on trusted teams, good governance and adaptability. • Work-life balance is essential for long-term sustainability and effectiveness. • Listening to yourself and embracing change can lead to greater fulfilment and impact. • Community support plays a vital role in sustaining local charities and services. Chapters 00:00 Catherine's Journey to Making a Difference 03:55 Launching Impact Family Services 06:58 Mission and Operations of Impact Family Services 09:46 Funding Challenges and Strategies 13:07 Balancing Multiple Roles 16:00 Wisdom and Lessons Learned 19:10 How You Can Support Impact Family Services 24:19 Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Abuse 25:14 Innovative Income Generation Strategies 25:41 Personal Growth and Change 25:56 Chats with Changemakers Outro Useful Links Connect with Catherine Marchant and Impact Family Services Websitehttps://impactfs.co.uk/ LinkedIn  / catherinemarchant   Workplace Domestic Abuse Traininghttps://impactfs.co.uk/education-trai... Follow Impact Family Services on social media to help raise awareness of domestic abuse and support their mission. Instagram   / impactfs.co.uk   Facebook   / impactfamilyservices   LinkedIn   / impact-family-services   Donate toiletries, hygiene products, gifts, arts and crafts materials, or funds to support families accessing their services. https://impactfs.co.uk/support/ Take part in fundraising events such as the Great North Run or organise your own challenge event. https://www.greatrun.org/events/great... Connect with Kate Duffy and Junction Point CIC ● Website: https://junctionpoint.co.uk/● LinkedIn:   / ●   Facebook:   / junctionpointuk●   Instagram:   / junctionpointcic   Check Out Our Level 2 in Starting & Developing a Social Enterprise Qualification https://junctionpoint.co.uk/level-2-s... Join the Free North East Changemakers Community   / 1ya7oqvvd3