A Farewell message from our Funding Officer, Martin

In May 2008 I was given the opportunity to take on a Funding Officer role at Dudley Council for Voluntary Service (Dudley CVS) as part of a new project called Building Blocks scheduled to run for five years. Lottery funding through the BASIS programme was obtained to support Building Blocks aimed at strengthening voluntary and community sector organisations in the Dudley borough.

I never thought then that almost 14 years later I would still be working and, despite my age (66 last August), still very much enjoying doing so even though most of my friends and work peers had retired! The “enjoyment” of this role can be described on many levels however the main aspect for me has been witnessing the incredible work charities do for vulnerable and disadvantaged people. Without such support, especially during a very difficult austerity decade followed by a two year global pandemic, so many of these people would have had nowhere to turn to.

My role was to support these charities to raise much-needed finance so they could deliver activities and services to people very much in need enabling them to have better chances in life and to take advantage of opportunities that would help them develop and further their ambitions in whichever way was best suited for them.

In just under 14 years I have supported over 100 different organisations (many on a number of occasions) helping them submit almost 400 funding applications totalling over £21.5M. Two thirds of these applications were successful (just over £12.35M received in grants representing circa 57% by value). 82% of the organisations supported received funding ranging from £500 up to approximately £0.5M.

A large proportion of my work has been centred around the National Lottery’s Reaching Communities funding programme. In total, I have supported 48 applications for 24 different organisations totalling £12.365M. There have been 32 successes totalling just over £7.8M for 16 of these organisations. These large grants have no doubt been spent very wisely and have reached thousands of disadvantaged people through the excellent work of these fantastic charities.

Having spent almost 30 years working in the Banking sector and achieving so much personally and professionally I took early retirement on ill-health grounds in 2002. The Bank couldn’t make the necessary adaptations so that I could continue working for them and I retired with pride and many great memories particularly around my dedication to customer service and my personal achievements recognised through promotions and a very generous bonus system.

During the following six years I had two jobs but there was something missing in my working life. I wasn’t getting the daily “buzz” that I had experienced in the bank (much of it triggered by stress that generated adrenalin and a positive can do attitude). However, the stress that I had thrived on for years wasn’t good for my medical condition (Multiple Sclerosis – MS). Both jobs were stress free but not challenging me enough.

I then started working at Dudley CVS and secured a job that was totally stress free (unnecessary pressure was never put on staff) however there were challenges that my three decades of banking experiences would prove invaluable in addressing as I set out on a new career taking me to retirement. As well as working with some incredible and wonderful charitable organisations helping them secure much needed funding and become sustainable I also worked with some amazing colleagues.

The ethos at Dudley CVS of being a supportive employer permeates throughout the organisation and has continued to do so despite the growth and expansion of our services over the past 14 years. When I started at Dudley CVS there were about 17/18 staff members (as well as a few volunteers); now it’s over 50! The culture of being supportive to each other irrespective of position is practised daily throughout the organisation. Everyone is treated with respect and dignity and, from my own personal point of view, at the very outset my disability was taken into account with adaptations being implemented immediately e.g. providing me with a convenient car parking space so I could access the building at Albion Street easily.

As time moved on and my mobility deteriorated my office space was moved so I could get easier access without having to climb stairs. All the basic amenities were to hand and attending the office was never an issue until the Coronavirus pandemic hit and everything changed! As we have slowly been able to return to office-based working, again, I have been afforded special treatment so I could participate in the return to work integrating myself again with colleagues in a safe and secure manner.

It is with a heavy heart that I am putting this “farewell message to the sector” together. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 14 years working for such a wonderful organisation and supporting some amazing and incredible charities. I had great and personally successful times in the private sector with career progression etc. however the satisfaction that I achieved for customers does not compare to the satisfaction I have enjoyed supporting the voluntary sector enabling charities to provide help to disadvantaged/vulnerable people as a result of receiving much needed funding to run their services/activities.

My final job was without doubt the highlight of my career. Thanks to every one of you for helping make this happen for me. I retire with both pride and enormous satisfaction as well as memories of working in such a wonderful, caring and vibrant sector where people care about people. Please keep up the great work, it’s needed now more than ever!