Spotlight – Rebecca Mistry (CEO) at The Baby Bank reflects on her experience of training with SCVS
“I have attended several of the online training courses run by SCVS/WAMGI but for me probably some of the most beneficial sessions have been the fundraising training. I had NO fundraising experience and was baffled by the fact that you had to provide funders with your accounts! Why did you have to share that with them? Why did you have to show who else you were getting money from.
“The training went through the basics of what information was needed, what documents you would need to be able to upload. How to make sure you were applying for funding that was relevant to your organisation. The training helped to clarify ‘our’ message, why we needed the money and the benefit the funding would have on the community. It helped to build confidence on how to ask for money, having access to Ellie and BCF gave techniques to improve how to communicate our message. Which is pretty simple, giving us funding will help The Baby Bank support more families. The training taught me why we needed to track data and get feedback from everyone involved so that we can share impactful stories from the families we support.
“I think from where I was 3-4 years ago and applying for funding to now when I’m applying for funding are poles apart I still hate the finance elements of the applications but at least now I can give that part to someone else and I can focus on telling ‘our story and our need for funding’.”