77 comms skills your team needs in 2026 - or do they?

I’ve just read Dan Slee’s latest blog listing 77 skills a public sector comms team needs in 2026. It’s a brilliant piece of work. It captures just how broad and complex communications has become - from strategy and crisis response to video, analytics, accessibility and AI.

But blimey - seventy-seven!

Be honest – how many of those does your charity actually have covered?

For most small charities I work with, the answer is: not many. Often there isn’t a comms team. Sometimes there isn’t even a comms person. It’s just someone doing their best alongside everything else.

And it’s hard to keep up, even for me as a comms generalist. The list grows every year. Channels change. Expectations shift. Digital moves fast.

Even though the list is aimed at the public sector, most of the skills apply just as much to charities.

However, you don’t need all 77 in-house. But you do need the right mix of support.

That’s where I come in.

I work in two main ways:

Do it for you

I take on your comms work – newsletters, social media, website content, short films, strategy. Check out how I can help. This usually works well as a 0.5–1 day a week retainer model. I’ll bring my knowledge from working across the charity sector to use your resources most effectively.

Do it with you

I support and train your in-house ‘accidental comms bod’, so they feel more confident and less alone. Often this looks like a day a month, or a six-month support package. I’m on hand for questions, advice, and reassurance, sharing my experience and what works.

I’d describe myself as a strategic doer. I’ll think it through properly – and then I’ll get it done.

At the time of writing I’m fully booked until the summer, but I expect to have space for one or two new clients after that. If you’d like to chat ahead of time about what support you might need, just drop me a message.