About me

I work with non-profit organisations (charities, CICs and community orgs) to make your work easier to manage and fund.

 

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I've been in the sector my whole career, starting when Linkin Park were first topping the charts.

I've been a venue manager, production coordinator, youth leader, university lecturer, and worked in programming, marketing, fundraising… 

I'm a weird mix of a list-loving wannabe accountant and a creative, idea-a-minute people-person.

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Most of the organisations I love to work with are run by one person, accomplishing amazing things through sheer determination to change the world. (If that’s you, you’re brilliant and you’re in the right place!)

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I spent a decade setting up and developing new organisations: CICs, charities, and community groups. I made all the classic start-up mistakes but also accomplished some pretty amazing things.​

 

I know what it’s like to juggle everything: meeting with an important funder one minute and unblocking the toilets the next. 

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In my last role, I grew the team from a couple of people working out of a cupboard into an organisation with a national reputation, multiple repeat funders and proper office chairs.

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I then shifted into consultancy – specialising in organisational development, business planning, and fundraising for small, world-changing organisations. 
 

When I came back from adoption leave at the start of 2024, I had to completely rethink how I worked (there’s way too much chaos now - and Weetabix on my clothes - to be running in-person strategy days). 

The new shebang I came up with means I can deliver the same support, but in more accessible, flexible ways. I offer low-cost online support, and created the Sticky-note Strategy programme. So it's manageable for me – but, importantly, it gives organisations what they need, when they need it, in a way which is affordable.

What about you?

If you need to understand fundraising, set up a company or charity, sort out your board, or pull together some kind of strategy, we got this. 

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• If you’ve looked at other support online and ended up more confused than when you started…

• If all the jargon makes you want to cry…

• If you’re doing a thousand jobs in one and have no time and no proper budget for this stuff…
   

...come and join the squad. 

We’ll sort it out, so you can focus on the stuff you actually set your organisation up to do. 

How I work

I want to smash the system that makes it too difficult, intimidating or expensive for people to get support.

 

I focus on jargon-busting and demystifying and I’m honest about the inequality that exists in funding and the charity sector. 

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We’ll work out ways to cheat, break or remake the system so it works for you.

That’s why you can…

 

• Get free resources from my website and workshops 

• Access low-cost online training any time you want (so you don’t need to get out of your pyjamas for us to work together)

• DM me or reply to my emails for those random questions you can’t get answered from googling

• Get an affordable alternative to working with a specialist consultant (with the Sticky-note Strategy programme, or by booking a one-to-one with me)

 

And while I’m on my soapbox, you don't have to be 'professional' when you work with me. “Professional” is a sexist, racist, classist, ableist concept. 

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I want you to be able to be yourself when we work together: ask all the questions you want, show up as you are. Tell me what you need and we can do it without a fuss. You might need to bring someone to support you or note-take for a one-to-one session. You might need to feed a baby while we chat, or to change your name or pronouns on the info I have for you. It’s all good.

 

The point is to make the world better.

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I have chosen to work with small organisations because they’re usually the ones making real change, not just talking about it. I work with organisations that are led by- or shout alongside- people whose voices don’t get heard enough (including LGBTQ+, queer or trans-led organisations, those with global majority leaders or for refugee and migrant communities). I actively try and make working with me a safer space. 

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To get a taster of working with me, you can join Sticky-note Squad: your regular dose of free support by email. It includes lots of resources, access to live workshops, and I share real examples from organisations I have worked with.

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“But are you any good?”

Yes, and here’s why:

I know what I’m talking about, but I also know what it’s like to run an organisation where getting through your to-do list is an Olympic sport. So there’s no reading word for word from dull-as power point slides here. I give you the info you need and the steps you need to action it.

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I genuinely love 'the boring stuff': strategy, finance, the tiny details that make a funding bid stand out, sorting out clause 1.4.2a in a governing document…
This comes through in my training and resources. It’s wall to wall enthusiasm, and value-packed, with a healthy dose of cynicism about the ‘right way’ to do stuff in this sector. 

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I run training for professional development programmes, degree and MA programmes and get asked back year after year. And because I have imposter syndrome I’ve also done lots of training for myself to check that yes, I do know my stuff (including on fundraising strategy, business planning, and a charity law professional development programme)

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I’ve worked with hundreds of small non-profits, but I’ve also done my time with bigger organisations, including The Lowry, British Library, Night Time Economy Solutions, New Adventures, Wise Children, Gloucester Culture Trust, Newmilns Ski Slope, Greenwich & Docklands International Festival and University of Manchester.

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I’ve been quoted in, consulted on or contributed to, books and articles including for Charity Times, Arts Professional, and on setting up a company, and community engagement in the sector. ​​

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