The Art of Stupidity
Thoughts from the messy middle of life, work and community.
About
I’m Connie Grayson—consultant, foster-mum, and veteran plate-spinner. This blog is my notebook from the “messy middle”: where third-sector deadlines collide with family chaos, where funding theory meets real-life duct-tape solutions, and where, sometimes, embracing a bit of artful stupidity is the only way through. Grab a brew, pull up a chair, and browse whatever corner of the mess speaks to you today.
📚 Choose your corner of the mess
| Category | What you’ll find |
| No-Nonsense Nonprofits | Third-sector insights—without the fluff. Tips, templates, rants and relief for anyone wrangling bids, governance or “doing good” on a shoestring. |
| In the Thick of It | Notes from the chaos of real life + work. Productivity hacks that survive three-hour sleeps, half-finished thoughts and perpetual to-do lists. |
| Things People Said That Stuck | Quotes that got under my skin—wisdom, provocations and one-liners worth sticking to your mental fridge. |
Latest Posts
The Twixtmas Trap and the Myth of the Fresh Start
The “New Year, New You” industrial complex is in high gear, screaming about military calisthenics, Dry January, and cardboard rice cakes. But trying to “redline” your life in the middle of a literal freeze isn’t motivation—it’s a recipe for a breakdown. Nature is…
Keep reading
When the Coos Come Home: My Christmas Out of Office Manifesto
From surviving pyjama-clad cinema chaos to using a laptop as a tactical shield against “what’s for tea?”—the Christmas OOO manifesto is live. I’m trading the kitchen-office for the winter pasture to focus on family, navigate the mince pie minefield, and watch my husband…
Keep reading
The Holiday Hustle: Your 2025 Guide to Not Losing It
Christmas with kids isn’t a lifestyle magazine editorial—it’s chaos with tinsel, and that’s completely okay. As a self-employed foster mum with a house full of teenage band geeks, I’ve learnt that the trick to surviving (and actually enjoying) the festive period is simple:…
Keep reading
Week 5: The Paper Accounts Trap: Ignoring the Mandate for Software-Only Filing.
Right, let’s talk about the administrative mistake that could get your charity fined: The Paper Accounts Trap.
The moment the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA) takes full effect, the UK is saying goodbye to paper or scanned accounts for most entities…
Keep reading
Your Mission Drift Prevention Toolkit (Or: How to Say No to the Wrong Money)
Last time we discussed Emma and Haven House, and how saying no to £200,000 turned out to be their smartest decision. Now comes the tricky bit: how do you actually make that call when the money’s sitting there and your budget’s looking thin?
…
Keep reading
Why Smart Charities Say No to Money (And Why You Should Too)
Emma was halfway through her third coffee of the morning when the email pinged through. A major foundation. £200,000. Three years of funding. She read it twice, then immediately rang her chair of trustees.
“We’re not applying,” she said.
That money should have…
Keep reading
Week 4: The Rainy Day Illusion: Running a Charity With Zero Financial Reserves.
There’s a stupid idea floating around the charity sector that the most virtuous charity is the one that spends every single penny the second it lands in the bank. A charity with no financial reserves is a time bomb. Running with a zero-reserves…
Keep reading
🚨 A Quick Update: Apologies for the Missing Post
I’m now on my fourth coffee, utterly drained, and watching the clock tick to a reasonable hour that I can finally call bedtime. I love my kids, and this has taken every ounce of reserve I had. Normal service will be resumed soon.
Keep readingThe Teacup Test: The Simple Art of Not Being Ungrateful
Most charities think a donation is the finish line. It’s not — it’s the start of a relationship. From phone calls to thank-you videos and proper reporting, this guide walks you through how not to be ungrateful (or administratively stupid) when someone gives…
Keep reading
Week 3: The Most Basic Fail: The Non-Negotiable Necessity of DBS Checks
DBS checks are not optional. In Week 3 of The Art of Stupidity, we confront “The Most Basic Fail”: risking your beneficiaries by cutting corners on safeguarding. Discover why ‘cost’ is a lie, why outdated checks are useless, and get your 4-step action…
Keep readingSomething went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
William James
The Art of Stupidity 