Hugh's Inspirational Story

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Hugh's inspirational story

How I got into fundraising

I started my career in the corporate world, but soon discovered that I’m really motivated by work that encompasses my values. I wanted to do something meaningful and make a real difference in the world, whether big or small.

Realising early on that money is most effective when being used for the betterment of people who don’t have the economic resources to live their lives to the fullest, moving into charity work was a natural step. I think being a fundraiser is a real test of character because it is your job to turn ambivalence into action.

Why I chose to work for Amnesty International

I’ve done a lot of travelling over the years, mostly to developing countries. During my travels I saw a lot of amazing charities doing great work and meeting people’s immediate needs. But Amnesty International really stood out because they were not just concerned with dealing with the symptoms of poverty, but also the underlying issues like corruption, human rights abuses and ensuring that everyone has the same access to resources, education and the means to thrive.

Leading up to my current role

In the past six years, I have worked in various face-to-face roles and found that my real skills and sense of accomplishment lie in developing others to succeed. I truly feel that everyone has the potential to excel in a fundraising role and I have been lucky enough to have mentors within Amnesty who’ve pushed me to be the best version of myself. I am privileged to have overseen teams who have exceeded expectations and have enabled Amnesty to continue their amazing work. So, this has felt like a natural progression to me.

I’ve had so much support and development from Inspired People and I am honoured to be able to support and develop others.

What I do now

My time is split between interviews, induction training, KPI workshops, 121s, strategy meetings and on street coaching. My real passion is people, and getting the best out of them. I love that I can be responsible for meeting the budgetary needs of Amnesty and indulging my passion for people.

The most enjoyable part of my role is watching my staff develop and grow. I love that my job is so varied and I get to meet people from various backgrounds who are united by the same cause. I’ve worked with some amazing people over the years that have gone on to do great things in the sector.

Why you should join the team

I believe most people come to work for us for two main reasons. They want to change the world and work in human rights. Or they want to change themselves; they want to grow as individuals so they can be the best version of themselves by becoming more resilient. Either of these goals can lead people to choose fundraising as a career.

The strange thing is that the opposite usually happens. Charity focused fundraisers develop new skills and become more confident in themselves. Target orientated fundraisers become more passionate, not just about causes that affect them, but about alleviating all kinds of human suffering.

That’s why I couldn’t possibly recommend fundraising more highly! Not only do you go home every day with an incredible feeling of achievement, but it’s a great way to develop your skill set and be the best you that you can be! Not to mention I’ve met some of my closest friends in the world through work.

"I’ve had so much support and development from Inspired People and I am honoured to be able to support and develop others."

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