2025 seems to have passed at a pace which has been second to none! There’s been so many dynamic aspects of 2025; whether I think about the year in global terms, national terms – or even more locally, within Leicestershire.
But what’s stood out for me is that it’s been a year of positive partnerships and progress. Across the year there are many highlights. It has been a privilege this year to partner with the East Midlands Chamber, for instance, and to collaborate on some key moments throughout the year including the recent successful annual conference. Working together with Global Health Partnerships in 2025 has been important for me too; supporting their International Summit at the beginning of the year, bringing together Ministries of Health from countries around the world, to tackle shared healthcare challenges, was an inspiring movement to be part of.
Having taken on the further role of Chair of the Fundraising Advisory Board meant this year has been even more busy at the King’s Trust – as we head rapidly now towards the Trust’s 50th anniversary year in 2026. I’ve been pleased, too, to support the publication of key policy shaping research papers by the Centre for Social Justice, highlighting amongst many other key national issues, the scale of the challenge of economic inactivity and the effects on the welfare state. It’s a central issue of deep concern that we’ve also been raising through the CSJ and King’s Trust. It was good to see the government makes some response in the autumn budget, but I’m hopeful more will be done into 2026, especially in relation to unemployment and those youth not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
On behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, it’s been my privilege in 2025 to preside at a number of citizenship ceremonies, as well as undertake other formal duties within our Leicestershire community, as the Lord Lieutenant’s representative on behalf of his Majesty King Charles III.
Our business year within RSCL has been dynamic and exciting, including with our team growing. I’m especially proud that my daughter has joined our Family Office investment company; making a real and positive impact in commercial terms right from the outset.
Within our family foundation, 2025 has been a year in which the pace has never been greater in terms of our support for life-saving and life improving causes, around the world and here at home. I was proud to be in Milan in early summer to formally mark the beginning of a three-year partnership with Emergency UK, supporting the international clinical and life-saving interventions by NGO Emergency. Our significant donation we hope, will save some 90,000 lives over the course of the partnership and our work in 2025 has already laid the foundations for this.
Collaborating with Community Foundations across the UK gathered pace in our Randal Foundation this year too, and we now partner with 10 Community Foundations, providing each with a fund to support grassroots charities in their area. It’s our goal that across 2025 and into the start of 2026, more than 120 grassroots charities will be supported through these partnerships. Our aim is to put resources, and just as importantly, hope, back into the hands of community organisations who care deeply and deliver impact where it is truly needed.
Alongside this, 2025 has seen significant progress under Pillar 4 of our strategy, as we have deliberately expanded our thought leadership and policy engagement. By working closely with influential thinkers, leading academics, think tanks and policymakers, we have increased our reach and strengthened our ability to shape evidence-led policy discussions. This approach is enabling us to address root causes through lasting structural change and ensure that life-saving interventions are not only delivered by direct intervention, but embedded within policy frameworks that can improve and save lives at scale.
Plans for 2026 are already advancing, and those of you that know me well will know my level of ambition in 2026 will only exceed what’s been possible through partnership, friendship, community and dedication, in 2025….
I look forward to continuing work with you and colleagues in 2026, and to exploring new partnerships and even greater potential.
Meantime, have a peaceful, restful and enjoyable Christmas. 2026 awaits our refreshed energy, our new perspectives and our determination!
Merry Christmas, to you, your team and your family.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL
Chairman and Founder, Randal Foundation
