Fundraising Intern Review

I had an amazing time working for Macmillan Cancer Support. The role I was given in North East Fundraising was both accessible and challenging. I worked as part of an amazing team, but had individual freedom to grow the role and develop it towards my career aspirations. The work was meaningful, and had longer term impact, which was immensely satisfying. It was an amazing internship and I'd recommend it to anyone. The only reason this wasn't a 10 (it's like a 9.5 really), is that I found working from home personally challenging. I was really well resourced to deal with that but I did find it somewhat challenging.

I felt incredibly valued. My local fundraising team were incredibly supportive in my role and helped me both in the day to day parts of my role but also in my personal development. My manager was extremely helpful at all times. Whilst based in Newcastle, I was invited to attend workshops and inductions in London and everyone I asked to meet with me was invariably hospitable and charitable with their time. I couldn't have interned for a nicer bunch of people!

I had 2 managers, one local and specific to my role in Newcastle, Jill, and the interns manager, Ogo. Both were extremely diligent in helping me in the role. Halfway through my project, I wanted to expand my role and Jill was amazing in helping me flesh that out in practice. She advised me of the best way to proceed and I was able to write a policy document that I wouldn't normally have been able to write. Macmillan are also awesome in that they offer mentors. My mentor, Anna, was a great source of support. Someone to chat too, someone to mull over issues with and someone with great advice. I was supervised by an amazing team.

I was super busy, but that was my choice. Anyone who had worked/volunteered for charities knows how thinly resources are stretched and how rewarding the work is. Once you get into it you just want to keep going! The reason for my 8 is that my role took a while to 'get going', but by the end I had the work balance that I wanted.

I was incredibly surprised at just how responsibility I was given at times, but I loved it! I was responsible for creating and managing a regional team of volunteers, co-ordinating (with support) public collections in the North East, attending volunteer fairs, recruiting volunteers and organising upcoming collections. I was also responsible for creating the resources for this volunteer team. On top of this I also wrote a paper recommending changes to the public collections model (and was given time for this), which is looking hopeful to be implemented in 2016.

I completed my theology degree a year ago so it wont help with that, but.... The skills I learned in this internship were incredibly valuable. I learned volunteer management, time management, project management and IT skills amongst many others. I felt I got a massive induction into the Third Sector, the industry I hope to work in in the future. I can't imagine a better introduction to working for a large charity.

This one is sort of cheating as I worked from home. I worked at the dining room with my flatmate Rosie and had a grand old time every day. However, I probably wouldn't credit Macmillan with that! I often worked out and about, and the atmosphere was pleasant yet busy. It felt dynamic and necessary.

In the main, my placement was really well organised. I had a project in place, a team of managers and a plan which I had input into. However, the main thrust of the project did only last 6 weeks out of the intended 12, but my manager Jill was amazing in helping me develop the role to last the allotted time. In terms of infrastructure, it was amazing. On my first day at the London induction, I was presented with my work phone, my laptop with my email ready. It would be a 9 if the expenses system were a little quicker.

A lot. I was offered to take part in lots of training in London and in the North East.

Hard to say as I have moved to New Zealand for 12-18 months. My managers have both said they will keep their eyes pealed for vacancies on my return so I'm feeling relatively confident. Only an 8 as I don't have a job (though to be fair I haven't looked!)

Actually this was the one area that my cohort weren't brilliant at. Having travelled to London for training, there was a social occasion afterwards and only myself, the interns manager and her colleagues attended which was a little disappointing. Some even left before the free wine! Madness... However, Macmillan gave ample provision for social occasion so this could easily be a fluke.

I worked from home in the North East. Cheap as it comes in England really.

Absolutely fantastic. It's Newcastle after all. People come from Amsterdam to party there.

Not really. The vast majority of interns are based in the London office, and I hear there's lots of social stuff happening down there. However, there are under 10 home based roles in the North East so there's not really enough for a squash team/dance troupe. A London thing I think!