Meet Fiona

What brought you to Launchpad Fiona?

I wasn’t actively looking for a new job however a recruiter got in touch and presented the position to me. I thought I’d have a read and see what it was all about, and the minute I started reading, I knew it was something I’d like to get involved in. I loved the ethos of the charity and the prevention over cure approach. I also really like the thought of moving into ‘small charity’ and being able to make a real difference locally; my brother was temporarily homeless after a difficult patch in his teenage years – it would have been great for him to have had someone like Launchpad to be there for him, so it felt quite personal to me too.

 Tell us about your career background?

My very early career started as a florist (this had always been a dream job as a child) but working in the cold constantly took a toll on my health and I had to give it up. I floated around in a couple of jobs in the corporate world with nothing feeling quite right, until I joined a buildings restoration charity called The Landmark Trust back in 2009. I spent eight years in their bookings team, getting to travel to some amazing properties across the UK, before doing a year’s maternity cover in their Estate Management team. I was then promoted to Engagement Officer, and it became my job to engage local communities in the work that we were doing and spread word of the charity.

After five years in that role, I decided I was ready for my next challenge and moved across to become a Senior Fundraiser for Sue Ryder, based at their Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading. I enjoyed the stewardship side of the role, and talking to those who had experienced the amazing care of the Sue Ryder nurses and had subsequently chosen to fundraise for us to say thank you. It was almost a year after being at Sue Ryder that I was approached to become the Fundraising Manager here at Launchpad, and I just felt the time was right to challenge myself a little more!

 What does your role entail?

I am responsible for bringing in the fundraising income for Launchpad and raising awareness of the charity and the services we provide. Whilst we do receive income from other areas such as rent and grants, fundraising is still a vital income stream for us. A large chunk of our money comes from the flagship events which I’m responsible for organising: the Big Sleep Out, Pancake Race and Carols by Candlelight. We also attend a plethora of community events and it’s up to me and my fundraising officer to arrange the logistics for these too. The fundraising officer and I look after our database of regular, one-off, and major donors, as well as supporting the corporate relationships too, ensuring that everyone who donates to Launchpad knows what their money is being spent on, and that they are a valued part of what we’re trying to achieve.

 What are the challenges of fundraising in 2024?

Event participation seems low across the entire sector,
particularly for local charities who run the risk of exhausting their audience. We’re always brainstorming new and interesting ways in which we can engage the
community in our events to keep things fresh and exciting. The cost-of-living crisis has also had a big impact on how much people are able to give, as well as on their comfort levels in asking friends and family for sponsorship. Our fundraising target for this financial year is just over £370,000 which is quite ambitious given the competition from the large number of other local worthy charities, but with the continued support of local people and businesses, we’re hoping to reach it and then some!

 What is the best part of your job?

I enjoy talking one-on-one with donors and potential donors, giving them a flavour of what we do. You never know who might be struggling and if we manage to sign-post just one person at a community event to our services, and help them before they reach crisis point, then it all becomes worth it. I’ve also really loved seeing just how generous the local community are, whether it be popping a few pounds in our collection buckets, setting up regular direct debit, buying a ticket to one of our events, organising their own events, or volunteering for us, each and every person who supports Launchpad is brilliant and making such a difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in Reading.

 What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I live a pretty hectic life outside of work, I’ve got two children of my own and two stepchildren, so the weekends are often taken up with ferrying them to various clubs or parties (their social lives are definitely more vibrant than mine!), but in my downtime I either like riding my mountain bike down mad hills in the forest near my home, or taking the road bike out for a long leisurely ride (calling in at a few cafes for cake on the route of course). I’ve also got quite into strength training at the gym which I find incredibly useful for releasing any stress. I also used to be quite an avid runner but health issues have meant I’ve had to reduce that, so recently I’ve been enjoying long walks with a pod-cast in my ear instead!

I’m happiest when I’m at the beach searching for sea glass or in the mountains hunting out waterfalls.