Charity recruit means business
A charity transforming the lives of young people in Sunderland has recruited one of the region’s brightest young entrepreneurs, who is on a mission to inspire a new generation of talent.
NSPCC is being backed by board member Michaela Reaney, and the young business owner is utilising all her skills and connections in training and education to put the charity ahead of the game when it comes to discovering the brightest new talent, and it’s all thanks to an innovative skills programme she helped facilitate.
Michaela, founder and MD of Newcastle-based training and graduate recruitment business Gradvert, joined NSPCC’s business board two years ago. The Gradvert team has supported it through events, annual fundraising and the Great North Run, all of which helped raise more than £60,000 for the charity. But the latest project Michaela has led on for the organisation has seen the 30-year old from Yarm broker a partnership with Newcastle University to develop a pipeline of talent for NSPCC, as well as creating new fundraising channels to generate thousands of pounds.
Michaela has drafted in support from Newcastle University to run an advanced award with 30 students, focusing on project management, linked to the NSPCC.
Michaela said: “I have an excellent, long-standing relationship with the university, and it seemed like a fantastic opportunity to explore how we could better work with students to increase the charity’s capacity, and generate additional income in the process.
“By brokering the relationship, we can deliver something that is mutually beneficial to both parties, and hopefully, establish a strong partnership that will add value for a very long time.”
Students will attend three two-hour workshops, delivered by Newcastle University staff, with the support of an NSPCC fundraiser. At the end of the workshops, students will split into groups and over three months will plan out and stage a fundraising event for the NSPCC. It is believed the events, which will help to develop the skills of the students, could also generate more than £6,000 for the charity. The university hopes to make this an annual course, with the potential to expand it and offer it to more students in the future.
Michaela added: “This has enormous potential for both parties and I am really excited about the value it could bring to NSPCC.
“In addition to student fundraising at the events, the university’s Students Union is keen to engage with NSPCC, and explore the potential of a NSPCC society at the university. It feels like a very exciting opportunity to work with the university in fundraising for the NSPCC, for what could be a long-term partnership.”
It is expected that workshops with students will begin in mid-February and will complete the award in 2017 year.
In addition to this project Michaela is developing a fundraising strategy and leading plans to launch ‘It’s not okay’, a campaign aiming to raise £15,000 to ensure every year, students in the region have the opportunity to see an extremely powerful play tackling e-safety and sexual abuse in a way they can relate to.
Michaela added: “NSPCC is an absolutely fantastic charity, and it takes no motivation at all to give my time and support to the team there. We are achieving great things by tapping into the skills, talents and networks of the board members, and I’m just one part of that picture, but it is incredible to be making a difference.”
Elaine Kaye, fundraising manager in the North East region, said: “We’d really like to thank Michaela for her energy and enthusiasm in developing new relationships for us across the North East.
“Our business boards provide vital support for us in protecting children in the region and throughout the UK, and Michaela’s work is a great example of what can be achieved with the backing of some of the brightest minds in business.
“For us, business boards do so much more than raise money. They establish key relationships, push issues of child safeguarding to the top of agendas, and really entrench the ethics surrounding the creation of happy, healthy and safe childhoods.”
If you would like to find out more about joining the NSPCC business board visit www.nspcc.org.uk, email northappeals@nspcc.org.uk or call 0113 887 1120.
“NSPCC is an absolutely fantastic charity” MICHAELA REANEY