The Decelerator is a free support service for civil society organisations. We offer information, tools and hands-on support for better endings.
We support organisations and individuals to anticipate and design closures, mergers, CEO transitions, programming ends, and all sorts of endings as just part of the everyday life of organisations and inevitable cycles of change in civil society. Our support and information is free at the point of use for nonprofit organisations. We may signpost you to further paid support if you have the need and means for it.
It is our ambition to be around for 10 years.
During this time we hope to shift mindsets and money so that individuals, organisations, sectors and movements consider possible endings as regularly and readily as growth in their ambitious, courageous pursuit of impact for the people and communities they serve.
We exist because endings are inevitable, but bad endings don’t have to be.
Better endings are those which place an organisation’s purpose at the heart of decision making, take steps to treat all the people involved or affected with respect and are planned well enough and funded adequately enough to secure a lasting legacy.
Too often, organisations do not have the time, money or headspace needed to do endings well. This can result in the loss of decades of expertise overnight. It can place an unnecessary and unfair emotional burden on staff and trustees. It can mean whole sectors and communities miss priceless opportunities to reflect, learn and collaborate to build back better.
After four years of work we know that with enough time, planning and funding, better endings are possible. We know that powerful new chapters for people, communities and beneficiaries can follow.
Our Services
Whether it’s the end of a leadership role, the closure or merger of a beloved organisation, a programme termination or any other ending, we know how daunting it can be to put it on the table. And how nerve-wracking (and sometimes relieving!) it can be to fund, design and deliver a good ending when the time comes.
That’s why we offer trusted, supportive and non-judgemental support to people and organisations considering, designing or delivering endings of all shapes and sizes.
You can be any type of nonprofit organisation (eg. charity, CIC, social enterprise etc), of any size, and at any stage of an ending. We know every organisation is different and we have the flexibility to meet your needs and bolster your skill and confidence.
The Endings Hotline
The Endings Hotline offers one-time, one-hour, confidential, free coaching sessions for anyone considering whether the time has come to consider an ending in their organisation, or is simply wondering how to put the idea ‘on the table’ alongside a range of others.
Tools for Endings
The library of Endings Tools are available free to you and your organisation and will help you design, deliver and advocate for funding for better endings in your organisation.
Endings Support Directory
The Endings Support Directory shares the trusted people, organisations and services available elsewhere that you can draw on to design and deliver a better ending - from practical tools to hands-on support from expert consultants.
A quick note about safeguarding and care in our work
The Decelerator is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all those who draw on our hotline and other services. We understand that individuals who reach out to us may be experiencing extreme stress or mental ill-health, and we take our duty of care towards them very seriously. As well as the duty of care to our team who support organisations and individuals. Our approach to safeguarding and whistleblowing can be read here.
Testimonials
Thank you for stepping in — for offering to help, being a compass and a calm voice reminding us that a good ending is possible and to be aimed for. I think that we always knew it was possible from a practical, financial “don’t hit the buffers” perspective, but your holistic approach added so much. People were losing something of value to them, and you helped us mark that by helping us find our story, our rituals and our closure.
Recipient of 3 months of consulting support in 2021–2022
I can’t thank you enough for the hour we spent on the phone. Having a safe space to talk everything through and test ideas helped me see what it is we need to do. I’ll tell anyone who needs to hear it that this sort of support should be available to all charity leaders.
An organisation who received coaching in 2021 and later decided not to close at this time