News

Wow! 2024 has started with a bang! In the first full week of January I said yes to four new contracts – a fantastic position to be in and I […]

I’m delighted to finally be able to share that this project, which has been in development since before covid(!), has secured the first stage of funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund. […]

I spend a lot of time in Leeds with my son but we rarely venture into the city. Unusually, last week we stayed in the city and had a chance […]

Fantastic to see the Out of Town Museum at The Sill Landscape Discovery Centre today. This exhibition has travelled from the hills of Coquetdale, to Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery and […]

A few weeks ago I was invited to chat with Culture Northumberland to share my thoughts on fundraising and talk about what my role as a freelance fundraising consultant involves. […]

As a freelance working mum I often feel like I have the perfect balance. Working freelance has always given me flexibility, my business grew with my child and I took […]

If there is one good thing to come out of the pandemic it is normalising virtual meetings and events – so much time is saved by being able to meet […]

I am delighted this week to have handed over a research report for the Ray Wind Funds. I have worked with local freelancer Helen Crow on this contract and together […]

Last year I was invited to meet with a volunteer at St Michael’s Church to learn more about their graffiti. What a treat! The graffiti was removed from the church […]

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is celebrating five years of wildlife discovery at its spectacular centre at Hauxley Nature Reserve. Read more here. Securing funding for the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre was […]

I have just started working on a new project and this one is such a treat because it is right on my doorstep. The Coastlands project will protect, enhance, celebrate […]

As I look back on 2021 and wonder what 2022 will bring, I start to wonder when the unprecedented becomes precedented. Looking forward is difficult just now with so much uncertainty in our lives... Here I encourage projects to reflect and learn from their own experience and the experiences of others.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland tells the epic story of Scotland through 160 exquisite panels all hand stitched by 1,000 volunteers. I really enjoyed working with this project earlier this […]

The Restoring Ratty project, a five year partnership effort to reintroduce water voles to the Kielder landscape, has come to an end. Supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, this project […]

Today is World Photography Day 2021. I’m no professional but I do enjoy having a play with my camera now and again. Here’s a few photos from projects I have […]

For almost a year the car has been sat on the drive, pretty much permanently. Driving has been limited to weekly supermarket trips and not much else during lockdown. Outside […]

One week into 2021 and its not quite going the way I had hoped/planned: back in lockdown, teenager doing his school work from home and no sign of a return […]

I’ve signed the pledge to stand against racism along with other cultural organisations and individuals in the north east. Over the next few weeks I will pull together an action […]

The Institute of Fundraising is now the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. This means I have new letters after my name as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (MCIOF). […]

…when it is a spreadsheet! This question has gained some attention in recent weeks and it occurred to me that I often see clients who are confused about the difference […]

It has been great working with the Revitalising Redesdale team to pull together an interim report for their evaluation. Although lockdown has made things challenging in lots of ways, it […]

I was really pleased to read about how the Natural Neighbours project is adapting to lockdown today. I was privileged work with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust to develop this […]

This blog post from the Coast Care team is really important for project evaluation – it celebrates the impact/outcomes of the project as well as the outputs. I have written […]

I’m delighted that the Accessing Aidan project has been recognised in the UK Heritage Awards 2020. Winner of the Hidden Gem category, the project has opened up the 12th century […]

I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery, Alnwick to develop a new Volunteer Engagement and Retention strategy. I’ve worked with Bailiffgate since 2012 and I’m really looking forward […]

Working from home is not new to me but never meeting clients (or anyone) face to face is. Having company at home every day is also not what I’m used […]

Some of the projects I work with have been looking at how they can support mental health by contributing to the Five Ways to Wellbeing. In these new days of […]

It was so lovely to attend the opening and blessing of the Accessing Aidan project last night. It has been a pleasure to work with the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership, […]

“It’s not about the outputs – the raw numbers, but the outcomes and impact of a project that make it successful or not.“ Last week I was invited to speak […]

I was delighted to attend the Love Northumberland 2019 awards last week with the Restoring Ratty team. Even more delighted that they were awarded the best ‘Coast and Countryside Project’. […]

I was privileged to join the Restoring Ratty team and Trinity Primary School this morning to send some water voles onto the next stage of their journey in Kielder Water […]

It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in the development of the Accessing Aidan project, their Heritage Lottery Fund funding is so well deserved. I can’t wait to see […]

Funding has been announced for Bailiffgate’s Out of Town Museum! So pleased to have had a role in bringing this project to life – the OOT Museum is going to […]

I’ve spent the day in Hexham at the Restoring Ratty conference. What an amazing and inspirational bunch of people delivering real conservation impact through water vole reintroduction. I’m evaluating the […]

Awesome! I’ve been working with Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Forestry Commission and others since 2012 on projects which aim to improve diversity, protect iconic species and bring wildlife back to Kielder. […]

The amazing Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre has won a RIBA North East Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects. The eco-friendly building, designed by Brightblue Studio, was among five […]

Some photos from this morning: exploring the heritage of Benwell in Newcastle. This is part of a community partnership project I am supporting to improve Hodgkin Park, working with HealthWORKS, […]

Interesting research from Heritage Lottery Fund about what makes a good evaluation report. “Just over a third, 37%, of reports were graded as good or excellent, while 64% where judged […]

The Natural Neighbours project will put greenspace back at the heart of communities. This is a brilliant project that I worked on last year with Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. […]

Last year, following the EU referendum, I wrote about how a yes/no referendum is not an effective form of consultation (read my post here). This morning, I am pondering whether […]

#fundraisingsuccess! I’ve written before about how the amount of money raised is not the only measure of success in fundraising and how the small grants are as important (and sometimes […]

I’m really enjoying the evaluation of the Peregrini Landscape Partnership project. It is early days but I am trying to embed a ‘walking’ approach to this – making it a […]

(and other questions about children’s freedom) I saw an interesting article from The Wild Network about how much freedom children should have. As a mum of an increasingly independent 9 […]

I have to admit, the first time I went to a rag rugging exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum I did not have high expectations. How good could a few rugs be? […]

I have been getting stuck into a couple of evaluation projects over the last couple of weeks. I find evaluation fascinating. It raises so many questions and really makes me […]

This weekend Fred and I went to visit a project which I worked on last year. The Holy Trinity Church Organ Restoration Project has restored the pipe organ, originally built […]

After an amazing 16 day family holiday in Cornwall we’re back into the school routine and I’m easing myself back into work gently… Who am I kidding? I’m like a […]

I missed this when it was announced in the press – fantastic news that water voles will be coming back to Kielder in the next few years following a successful […]

“The more risks you allow your children to make, the better they learn to look after themselves,” ​Roald Dhal Some lovely quotes here about the importance of children’s play (stolen […]

Two years ago I was writing a Heritage Lottery Fund application for Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Dynamic Druridge project. Now we have this… …the new Wildlife Discovery Centre at Hauxley Nature […]

Yesterday, National Play Day 2016, I came across a blog from The Wild Network and it really got me thinking and reflecting on my own experiences. What is really behind […]

#5yearsfreelance Eek! I have just been asked to tender for quite a large evaluation contract. It is a good opportunity and an interesting project to be involved in. But, I […]

I haven’t posted anything about the EU referendum on this blog, although I have made no secret about which way I voted on my personal facebook and twitter pages. The […]

June is proving a very busy month, both family and work-wise, and fitting something wild into our day is harder than I remember it last year. Nevertheless the Williams family […]

Twice recently, I have been made aware that my day rate is significantly less than some other consultants doing a similar role. This has made me question what is the […]

I spent an afternoon in Newcastle with my son today. As well as searching for new school shoes and a new rucksack to replace the one which fell apart in […]

A couple of weeks ago I was invited on a heritage walk around Hexham – exploring the River Tyne and its tributaries. As well as the obvious wildlife and nature, […]

The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 Days Wild campaign starts tomorrow. This is something that I and my family really enjoyed last year so, when Northumberland Wildlife Trust asked me whether we […]

I love the concept of ‘noticing nature’ – finding nature in our everyday lives and noticing, valuing and celebrating this. Noticing nature is good for me, it makes me smile […]

#5yearsfreelance I’m feeling the pressure of impending deadlines this week and at times like this I find it hard to keep up with my Twitter feed, blog, Facebook, Instagram etc […]

Innovation is all very well but sometimes you can’t beat the tried and tested and, when it comes to community fundraising, you can’t beat a cake sale can you? It’s […]

On Monday I stopped off at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a place I have visited several times before but not for a few years. Where better to get inspired about […]

School holidays are always a reminder that I am a working mum (and I try to be a mum first and working second). One of the things I love about […]

After what seems like forever (but has actually been less than a week), of dark, cold, rainy days, this weekend has brought spring. Just a few minutes in the garden […]

I am tremendously excited to launch my new look website. If you are reading this you will already have discovered it – please have a look around. There are still […]

#5yearsfreelance I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed by the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to help them develop a full application to the Heritage Lottery Fund […]

It has been a busy year so far and, already, I have submitted funding applications totaling around £2 million. This seems a good time to reflect on whether these will […]

The thrill of seeing projects come to life #5yearsfreelance Developing the Dynamic Druridge project with Northumberland Wildlife Trust is one of the highlights of my freelance career. It was a […]

Three top tips for meeting a funding deadline. It’s that time again when a funding deadline date is approaching fast and as I and the team I am working with […]

The Government is proposing changes to legislation that will affect the way the Landfill Communities Fund works. As The Wildlife Trusts explain here, what sounds like a good idea on […]

5yearsfreelance This year I am celebrating five years of working for myself. In that time I have supported fourteen charitable and community organisations to raise more than £3 million. Grants […]

I am always surprised by the New Year – time passes so quickly and it is hard to believe that one year has ended when it seems like only a […]

I am working on a couple of big partnership projects at the moment, both with their own challenges, and so I have been pondering the pros and cons of partnership […]

Lots of funders ask you to identify a need for your project and, often, this is linked to local deprivation. We all know that deprived communities have multiple needs – […]

I spent an amazing day on Tuesday exploring the Lower Derwent Valley in Derbyshire with one of the DerwentWISE project leaders. DerwentWISE is a Heritage Lottery Fund Landscape Partnerships Programme […]

I got some fantastic news from the Heritage Lottery Fund yesterday. I can’t say any more at this stage (the grants have not been publicly announced yet) but what I […]

I think in many ways we can be sure that summer is over. Outside it feels very autumnal. The mornings are cold, not quite frosty but there is a definite […]

I love the tips in this Guardian article about how voluntary sector organisations can improve the workplace without busting the all-important annual budget. Charities can get a lot of criticism […]

Four years ago, when I first started working freelance I set up a blog on my website. My intention was that I would use this to update the world about […]

With a new series of Bake Off kicking off last night, it feels like an appropriate time to share this great infographic which I came across recently. I see so […]