Kelly's journey to fundraising

I fell into fundraising and then fell in love with it!

?Rewind back 9 years ago: I was 24 years old, had finished University with a Psychology degree, and was working in a sales role – purely because the money was good at the time! It wasn’t my dream job; it wasn’t a career, but it paid for my 24-year-old lifestyle!

?And then suddenly, life changed, and overnight I became extremely sick. I spent the best part of a year in and out of hospitals, lost all my independence, had to move back home with my family, couldn’t work, and couldn’t be left alone. My life had been completely turned upside down in the blink of an eye, and physically and mentally, at this point, I’d given up.

?I was fortunate enough to have the support of loving friends and family who picked up my pieces, put me back together, supported me financially, and surrounded me with love. This triggered something in me. I was lucky, lucky to be alive, and lucky to have the support I had at a time I really needed it. But what if I hadn’t had that support? What would’ve happened?

?The cogs started turning, and I knew I wanted to do something to help people who didn’t have support systems in their lives. I set on a mission to help as many people as possible and, in doing so, set up my own small charity to do this. I loved it. I could see the difference I was making to people, and I knew then it was my calling. From sending people to Germany for cancer treatment, providing electric wheelchairs to helping people with eating disorders feel good about themselves with new clothes, I did it all, and I wanted to do more.

?But I was 24, still recovering, and a bit naive if I’m honest! I wanted to change the world, but I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. That’s when I saw a job at BLGC for a Community Fundraiser. I started learning about the Charity, and I fell in love with the place and its vision and mission. I was lucky enough to get the role. 8 years on and I’ve never looked back.

?Now, as Head of Fundraising & Communications at BLGC, I can honestly say I enjoy every second. Fundraising is difficult, even more so in these climates; it’s relentless, but it’s also magical. Building relationships with amazing people who want to do good things and helping them fulfil this desire, while also seeing the HUGE impact this makes on the children, young people, and families in need, honestly gets me out of bed every morning.

?The difference is tangible; I see it every single day. I see it in the hot meals given to young people who wouldn’t otherwise eat that day; I see it in the young person sat in one of our counselling sessions in our Safe Zone; I see it in the queues out the door before opening time; I see it in the young people who don’t want to go home when we’re closing; I see it in the smiles and in the tears.

?It sounds cheesy and cliché, but being ill was the best thing that ever happened to me when I look back at it retrospectively. It gave me a new meaning of life and a new meaning of what mattered. It made me a better person. It set me up on a career path in a job I genuinely love at BLGC, but one I never envisioned I would ever take. It helped fulfil my life, and it’s made me who I am today.

?If you’ve not been down to BLGC, if you’re missing that something to fulfil you, I recommend it wholeheartedly. Let me know, and I’ll get the kettle on!