Sharing Light, Building Hope

Earlier this year, I was asked to coordinate the Church’s Light the World charity machine initiative across the UK for Christmas 2025.
The Initiative features customised vending machines and kiosks stocked with tangible items and services to help people in need, either in the UK or across the world.
In turn these items and services provide a meaningful and memorable way to show love and extend hope to individuals and families.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all costs associated with the charity machines and receives zero financial benefit.
100% of every donation goes directly to the participating nonprofit organisations.
For me, it’s been a wonderful opportunity to serve and build many new friendships along the way too.

Light the World

Following a lovely meal together on Friday evening, yesterday, many of us from across the UK Communications Council gathered at the Preston Temple in Chorley, for our annual training meeting.
It is always a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and refocus our shared purpose for the year ahead.
It was also great to finally meet Naomi Notice, our City Lead for London, face to face.
In recent months, like so many involved in the Light the World campaign, we’ve had frequent calls and messages, as the pace of the project quickens.
Naomi’s enthusiasm and creativity have already made a massive difference.
She brings oodles of energy, professionalism, and a huge heart for service – essential qualities that perfectly capture the spirit of the whole Christmas initiative.
As we met together, the temple provided a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do: to share light, to build bridges of understanding, and to invite others to feel the love of Jesus Christ.

Giving

This initiative offers both givers and receivers the chance to experience “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).
Meeting together throughout the day, there was a real sense of shared purpose and hope for all of us as we looked ahead over the next 5 to 10 years of significant projects not only here in the UK but around the world.
It was a reminder of how much can be achieved when we work together in faith and unity.
2025 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for Light the World – Charity Machines in the UK, and yesterday’s meeting renewed our collective commitment to make it our best yet.
Look out for the machines in December this year at the Bullring in Birmingham and Spitalfields Market in London.
What small act of love or service could brighten someone’s day this week?

Creating Space to Learn

Its been a quick week.

On Monday, I arrived at our venue a couple of hours before the start of the latest leadership session, I was just observing after all, but my fellow facilitators had been there for a good wee while longer!

Arriving early as a learning facilitator, is critical.

The magic however of a great learning experience doesn’t begin when the first participant walks into the room, it starts days, weeks and even months, before.

Long before a single chair is straightened or a workbook is placed on the table, facilitators are already deep in preparation.

For this programme, the preparation began in partnership, working closely with Korn Ferry Management Consultants to shape the design, alongside Aviva’s learning consultants to refine the flow and feel of the sessions.

From there came hours of reviewing materials, crafting thoughtful questions, building stories, and attending to the small details that help people connect and learn together.

Then of course there is hours of work done by our events team, who have been organising venues, coursebooks, materials, travel, meals, and most importantly of all – delegates!

This week our facilitators travelled from far and wide, bringing not only their suitcases but their energy, insights, and passion for helping others grow.

Arriving early to set up the space, check the slides, arrange materials, and make sure every table feels ready for learning, it’s all part of facilitation life.

Because when the first delegate walks in, everything should quietly say, you matter, and we’re ready for you.

Facilitation isn’t just about delivery.

It’s about intention. Preparation. Presence.

It’s about creating the conditions where learning can truly come alive.

What does great preparation look like in your world?

A Fireside Chat to Remember

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of observing a fireside chat with a senior leader unfold in the Lead the Way programme at Aviva in Perth.

It was enjoyable to sit there and watch the learning unfold.

As I understand it, a few days earlier, there was a short call between the facilitator and the cohort sponsor, to discuss the opportunity at hand.

That early conversation helped shape the flow, clarify expectations, and set the tone for what would become a powerful learning experience.

These chats don’t happen in every session, but are organised when calendars and time align.

From the moment the chat began, there was an openness in the room and a genuine curiosity to learn.

Course participants were invited to ask questions, and they were asked with warmth, thoughtfulness, and respect.

The leader’s responses were real, honest, and at times filled with humour.

Many personal stories brought key topics to life, offering both insights and reassurance that leadership, at its heart, is a human endeavour.

One of the standout moments came when someone asked, “How would you describe your work–life balance?”

The leader paused, smiled, and replied with calm confidence: “Disciplined. I have outside interests, things that are non-negotiable. They keep me grounded.”

That simple, authentic answer said it all.

Throughout the conversation, there was laughter, reflection, and a shared sense of purpose.

It wasn’t just a Q&A, for many in the room, it was a real live mentoring session.

The whole session sparked real connection, fostered networking, and built relationships across the cohort.

For me, it was a joy to see such a positive experience unfold, that blended insight, humility, and humanity in equal measure.

What stories from your own journey could help others see the human side of leadership?

Looking Up

Last weekend, speaking at General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave one of the most moving talks I’ve ever heard.
With his “diminished” yet powerful voice, his brief rendition of 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 was electrifying.
A quite remarkable testimony of Jesus Christ that touched my heart.
His spirit filled words, were an incredible witness of truth, “𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘴𝘦𝘦.”
And it was a witness that will linger in my soul and millions of others for generations to come.
As we were still processing the spirit of it all, Megan sent this photo of our 10-month-old grandson, Oscar.
There he stood, steadying himself on the TV stand, literally looking up to Elder Holland.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
Oscar, with childlike awe and curiosity, looking up to a man I’ve looked up to for decades.
It was far more than cute.
It was profound.
The Lord asks us to become as little children, not because they know more, but because they see more clearly.
In a world that often pulls our eyes downward, here was a reminder to all of us to keep looking up, to faith, to truth, to those who lead with love and light.
And in that small, ordinary moment in the living room, we caught a glimpse of something eternal: one generation quietly passing on reverence to the next.
Oscar doesn’t know who Elder Holland is yet, but maybe he sees more than we realise, the kind of seeing that only a child can.
Someday he will and he is clearly already tuning in.
And perhaps for Oscar, in his own innocent way, “𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐’𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦” too.
“One thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” – John 9:25
And when he really does, I hope he knows that his family has always looked up, to apostles, to the Saviour, and to the hope that binds us all together.
Who have you looked up to that helped you see more clearly?

A different kind of tired

I’ve had a great, but exhausting week!

At the start of the new leadership programme – Lead the Way, with Aviva in Perth, there’s a familiar pattern emerging.

People arrive mid-afternoon, often after an early start and a long journey.

They mostly arrive with a little travel tiredness, having transitioned from back-to-back meetings into something unknown.

After all, they’ve just stepped away from the buzz of their day jobs, where decisions are constant and time is tight.

So, we slow them down.

It’s one of the quiet, yet very special gifts of this programme: two full days where they’re not doing the day job, rather, they’re encouraged to think differently.

Reflecting.

Paying attention to themselves and others in ways they usually don’t have time for.

A New Tired

And yet by the end of those two days, my discovery this week is they’re still tired, just in a completely other way.

It’s not the tiredness of logistics or deadlines.

It’s the stretch that comes from working with new models, testing fresh ideas, and forming new connections, not only in their minds, but with each other too.

It takes a great deal of effort to tune into those emotions, to have honest conversations, and explore their own leadership habits.

It’s also the kind of tired that comes from meaningful work.

And somewhere in all that effort, I have witnessed many who start to see a shift in mindset.

A quiet clarity.

The occasional Aha moment where something lands differently and opens up in a new way.

It’s not always comfortable, but it is purposeful. And for many, it’s long overdue.

So yes, they do leave tired.

But it’s a good tired, for each of them.

A stretched, thoughtful, worthwhile kind of tired.

And from what I’ve seen, it’s the kind that stays with you.

When was the last time you were stretched in a way that felt meaningful?

New. Uncomfortable. Stretching.

Yesterday was my first time running the new Lead the Way leadership programme for Aviva in Perth.
I’d worked with my co-facilitator Jane many times online over the last 26 days, but this was the first time we had actually met in person.
So right from the start, I was feeling that mix of excitement and a wee bit of nerves too…
And I wasn’t the only one!
As delegates started arriving, there was a quiet tension in the waiting area.
A subtle mix of anticipation, nerves, and curiosity.
Uncomfortable, yes. But that’s often where the good stuff starts to happen.
Jane and I were definitely in the stretch zone too. After all we were delivering this session live together for the first time.
There’s always a bit of uncertainty when you’re doing something new, even if you’ve prepared.
Life has taught me for sure, that growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone!
Early on in the session, we invited each delegate to pause and simply notice what they were feeling.
Not to fix it or fight it – just to notice.
There’s real power in staying present, in leaning into the awkward, uncertain, or emotionally charged moments and I have learned its essential for growth, but not easy for everyone.
We talked about how useful it is to stay with those tricky emotions rather than brushing them aside.
In leadership and in life too, I know that discomfort can show up right before something meaningful happens.
That ability of noticing without reacting is key when you’re leading teams too.
It can help you understand your own reactions and allows you to empathise with the emotions of your team.
By the end of the day, everyone had started to explore their own leadership style with more honest feelings.
There was more openness, more self-awareness, and definitely a bit more ease in the room too.
It was a solid start and a good reminder that discomfort isn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong.
Most of the time, it means you’re right where you need to be.
Day 2 – here we come!
What helps you stay grounded when things feel uncertain?

Lit with Fire and Faith

Every six months, I sit down to watch the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
My expectations were high, as with the passing of President Nelson last week, there was always going to be some unknowns whilst the church enters an apostolic interregnum, wherein the Quorum of the Twelve serves as the presiding body until a new First Presidency is appointed.
Yesterday, Monic, Amilya, Hazel (2 visiting BYU students) and I settled down, to listen to the messages of hope and inspiration for the world.
As we watched Conference together with freshly baked banana bread in hand, slippers on, and a blanket or two making the rounds, I found myself deeply grateful for this opportunity to learn.
There were many inspirational speakers, who shared the feelings of their heart.
But for me there was one who shone brightly.

On Fire

Elder Kevin G. Brown spoke on “The Eternal Gift of Testimony.”
Sustained as a New General Authority Seventy only six months ago, this was his first time speaking in General Conference.
He spoke with a passion, a fire and a zeal that was simply incredible.
He was so animated and enthusiastic about the message he shared.
“If you know, 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖. I know that I know.”
There is no denying his conviction and the unmistakable authority of one who knows.
He knows and it shows.
He went on to say that “it is worth every effort to pursue this path to testimony” and it was clear that in his lifetime, he had pursued the path to a sure testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Storm Amy had swept through Scotland yesterday and left our wee nation a bit battered and bruised.
It was still a little grey and a bit drizzly outside after the storm, but inside our home things were different.
From his Jamaican roots, Elder Brown brought not just the blistering heat of his homeland, but some thunder too, setting the conference centre ablaze (and our home too) with fire and power through his personal testimony and fearless witness of the Saviour.
His passion, power and sincerity were palpable throughout, he certainly shook me and set me on fire once more.
There are still a few sessions to go, and if you haven’t tuned in yet, I’d really encourage you to watch.
There is something powerful about hearing these messages live, wherever you are in the world.
Who or what has stood out to you so far?
And a short postscript – I KNOW TOO!

Savouring the Small Moments

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the privilege of sitting in a large training room and simply watching learning unfold.
The leadership programmes I have been attending stretch over 2 days, beginning mid-afternoon on Day 1, flowing through a full Day 2, and closing at lunch on Day 3.
Yesterday, as the programme drew to a close, and we started to slow down, we stood together in a large circle for final reflections.
In our last 15 minutes, participants were invited to share their learning takeaways, the “a-ha” moments that had lifted, inspired, or even changed the way they think.
What struck me wasn’t the grand or dramatic revelations, but the 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔.
A phrase that stuck.
A comment from a colleague.
A small moment of courage.
A shift in perspective.
A subtle insight that sparked a smile.
These were the things each delegate had chosen to hold onto and savour.
It reminded me of something important about leadership: so often we think learning has to come in big packages, huge breakthroughs, bold strategies, dramatic change.
But yesterday reminded me that it’s the little things that often make the biggest difference.
It has been my life experience that great leaders pay attention to the 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 and encourage others to do the same.
Over the next few days, why not watch out for those small learning moments that deserve a little more savouring.
The subtle experiences you might otherwise overlook.
The quiet insights that whisper rather than shout.
Notice them. Capture them. Reflect on them.
Because sometimes, the smallest takeaway carries the deepest learning and the greatest power to shape lasting change.
What small moment this week has taught you the biggest lesson?

Foiled Again!

This week, like last, I’ve been quietly observing the new leadership programmes at Aviva in Perth.
But there’s another, less formal, daily challenge I face alongside my fellow facilitators, and it comes wrapped in foil!
Every morning, the catering team lays out a display of Tunnock’s finest: tea cakes, snowballs, caramel logs, and my personal favourite – caramel wafers.
It’s an iconic Scottish institution after all, a proud family-run business.
And here’s the problem.
Because while the visiting delegates (currently mostly from England) dig in, (its hospitality after all and a wee taste of Scotland), I find myself staring at the table, having a little internal leadership moment.
It’s a daily test of self-discipline.
It sounds silly, right? It’s just a biscuit!
But self-discipline is one of the most underrated traits of great leadership for anyone who wants to lead the way.
It’s about the choices we make when no one’s watching, especially the small ones. And those small choices can all add up.
I must admit to having failed once or twice last week.
If I can’t say no to a caramel wafer at the next break, how will I hold a boundary under pressure?
How will I stay committed to the long-term over the easy win?
How will I model the kind of leadership I expect from others?
The truth is simply this, self-discipline isn’t about denying joy, rather It’s about directing it.
Choosing long-term growth over short-term gratification.
Building habits that make future decisions easier.
And in leadership, those habits ripple out, that can shape culture, model behaviours and build trust.
So, this week, I’ve started to leave left the Tunnock’s on the table.
Not because I don’t love them (I really do), but because I love what I’m building more, and that starts with leading myself.
I think I’ll keep a wee eye on my fellow facilitators too!
Or am I the only one facing this regular test?
Besides… they’ll still be there next week. Probably. Maybe. 😉
What small habit could you build this week that reflects the kind of leader you want to be?

Spider Time

I was visiting my mum yesterday, and we started talking about the colder evenings, when our conversation turned to spiders moving indoors for warmth.
She told me about a massive one she’d found in her bedroom.
She squished it and moved on, as you do!
As a child I remember a big one running over my bed and I’ve never been fond of them since.
I shared our current spider saga; the one Amilya spotted in our living room.
She tried to get it. Missed. Tried again. Missed. Third time: still missed.
And then it disappeared behind the couch.
We haven’t seen it since ☹
We’re now living in this strange state of quiet dread, knowing it’s in there somewhere… waiting. We shake out blankets. We check under cushions. We know it’s there, and the not-knowing is almost worse than the spider itself.
That’s when my mum mentioned an old bit of folklore: Chestnuts are supposed to ward off spiders.
Luckily, I’d picked up a few chestnuts on a recent trip down in England.
So, about 10 days ago, for strategic defence I placed them in the living room, sadly I’m not sure if they are working or the spider’s just biding its time…
There’s a kind of anxiety that comes when something feels off, but you don’t know what to do.

Faith over Fear

The spider is small, but the fear feels big. And the more invisible it becomes, the more space it takes up in your head.
Life is like that.
There are things we can’t see but feel. Worries can creep in. Fears about the future, or regrets from the past, or things deep inside us that we just don’t want to face.
We try to manage it with strategies, sayings, or spiritual chestnuts we hope will protect us.
But they don’t always help.
2 Timothy 1:7: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
God doesn’t remove every threat, or every spider, or every uncertainty.
But He can and does remove the fear of them.
I know His Spirit brings clarity, calm, and courage, even when something’s still lurking in the background.
What’s the “spider behind the couch” in your life right now?