Skills
Writer
Presenter
Facilitator
Administrator
Researcher
Senior Manager
Project Co-ordinator
Currently undertaking a full-time Masters Degree in Professional Writing, as part of a planned career break. Personal focus on ‘Writing for Social Change.’
Most recent salaried role: responsible for administering the Community
Grants Programme of a Charitable Trust, making awards between £400,000
and £20.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, servicing Trustee Committees
and Strategic Working Parties, including providing detailed policy reports
and recommendations, and statistical analysis of grant giving.
Experienced facilitator and trainer, comfortable giving presentations or co-ordinating group meetings. A background in advice work has developed my confidence in communicating effectively with a wide range of people, both as an active listener and when needing to interpret and explain complex information in a straightforward and clear way.
Ability to initiate, develop and implement projects, working collaboratively with a wide range of individuals and organisations
Methodical administrator, with formal secretarial and computing qualifications. Daily user of Microsoft Word. Extensive experience of using desktop publishing software, including QuarkXpress and PageMaker. Financial information on grants programme managed on Excel and Benefactors. Website development using Dreamweaver.
Practical experience of research work, report writing and data analysis. Work duties further informed by undertaking external Professional Certificate in Management and Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary Administration
Overview
• An early training in life sciences has shaped a working style that aims to combine a focus on methodical process with an eye to the ‘big picture’.
• Whether designing databases for staff at a University Department, or developing cross-county volunteer recruitment initiatives, an understanding of the needs of the individual matched against the requirements of the organisation - or organisations - has informed my approach to project work.
• My activities in the CAB Service were judged innovative enough for my selection to the ‘School for Social Entrepreneurs’. I maintain a keen interest in the mechanisms for building the capacity of, or developing greater collaboration between, organisations at a community level for the benefit of local populations.
• Experience of administering a wide ranging grants programme for a local, high profile Trust has provided an awareness of the complexity and challenges of funding programmes. Proximity to funded, and rejected, projects has heightened personal awareness of the importance of effective research and evaluation.