From a challenging childhood to leadership of a ground breaking charity, Danielle Bridge has built her successful career out of being open to the range of opportunities that have come her way.

In this episode of Leading Lights, MOREVER Managing Director, Abi Mellor talks with the Chief Executive of Black Minds Matter UK about her role as the leader of a charity helping the Black community to access the mental health resources they need for better mental health, or to recover from mental illness.

This conversation covers a lot of ground.

• The mental illness challenges within Danielle’s own family that shaped her childhood.

• How being ‘unprescriptive’ has unlocked the opportunities that have led her into leadership.

• Her ‘driving force’ to do something with purpose.

• How she came to found ABC Life Support, a first aid training organisation.

• How the murder of George Floyd propelled her into her current role.

• Her thoughts on what she calls out as the ‘life epidemic’ impacting mental health.

• Her concerns around the impact on the Black community of the current political climate and the development of AI.

About Black Minds Matter UK

Black Minds Matter UK is a registered charity connecting Black individuals and families with free 1:1 talking therapy delivered by qualified and accredited Black therapists.

Its network of therapists work tirelessly to break down stigma and redefine therapeutic experiences for Black individuals.

Its three pillars of impact are therapy, awareness raising through education, and advocating for systems change in statutory services.

Black Minds Matter UK is working towards seeing a community of Black people readily accessing mental health support, recovering fully from mental illness, and thriving.

To find out more about Danielle, and Black Minds Matter UK, visit:

https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/

Instagram:

@daniellebridge_ceo

@blackmindsmatter.uk

@abc_life_support

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellebridge/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-minds-matter-uk/

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch the next episode, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing or Creative at a charity? Join the MOREVER Meetup – an informal space to share ideas and connect with other women doing creative work in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER – an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers. www.morever.co.uk

Unfiltered conversations with women leading change in the charity and non-profit sector.

Leading Lights shines a light on female leadership, amplifying the voices of the inspiring women making a difference through purpose-driven work.

In each episode, we speak to non-profit CEOs about how they lead, what they’ve learned, and what keeps them going. Expect honest conversations, bold ideas and practical insights. It's the perfect listen for anyone passionate about the third sector, purpose-lead work or leadership.

Brought to you by MOREVER – the creative agency for charities & changemakers

From grassroots campaigning in India to co-leading one of the world’s most influential organisations, Areeba Hamid’s journey is one of purpose, resilience and quiet power.

As the first woman and first person of colour to lead Greenpeace UK, Areeba shares her deeply personal path into activism – seeded by the influence of a grandmother who showed her it is possible for women to ‘defy expectations’ by raising a child alone in post-Partition India, and her grandfather, a newspaper editor who was active in the Indian independence movement and filled her childhood with stories of resistance and political action.

In conversation with Abi Mellor, Areeba reflects on: 🔹 How she fell in love with campaigning and activism, but it was the idea of going on the boat that really drew her in. 🔹 How she’s making co-leadership work at Greenpeace UK through a ‘high-trust, low ego’ model. 🔹 How Greenpeace took on (and beat) Shell in the courts 🔹 Why she believes only strong leadership can save us from a climate catastrophe 🔹 The weight of breaking the leadership mould, and her experiences of navigating identity, belonging, and leadership in the UK charity sector

Areeba’s story is both inspiring and urgent – a powerful reminder of what can happen when bold values meet fearless action.

About Greenpeace UKGreenpeace UK is part of a global network campaigning for a greener, more peaceful planet. Through direct action, lobbying, research and innovative communication, it works to expose environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and just future.

www.greenpeace.org.uk

Instagram: @greenpeaceuk

BlueSky: greenpeace.bsky.social

TikTok: @greenpeaceuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenpeaceuk

Areeba recommends 📖 Butter by Asako Yuzuki – Get it here 🖼 In the Mood for Love: Hockney in London 1960–1963 at Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert – More info 🎧 This American Life – Listen here

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch the next episode, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing or Creative at a charity? Join the MOREVER Meetup – an informal space to share ideas and connect with other women doing creative work in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER – an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk