New Woman At The Helm of Fundraising
Tiffany Seddon is the new Fundraising Manager at Wessex Heartbeat. She joined us in November 2008, after spending the previous four years working for the Jubilee Sailing Trust as their Events and Fundraising Executive.
Tiffany, who brings an abundance of fundraising knowledge and experience, lives with her husband, a professional sailor and enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle.
When did you join & what have been your first impressions of Wessex Heartbeat (WHB)?
18th November 2008 - A very emotive and worthwhile charity with staff who are thoroughly committed and driven to continue with its success. I'm very proud to be associated with WHB.
How much did you know about the charity before you joined the team?
Quite a bit as I've known the founder of the charity, Rob Lamb, for several years and have always been moved by his passion when talking about WHB.
What is your role within the charity and how would you like to see it develop?
Fundraising Manager - My aim is to create and also improve on the foundations and procedures in order for the fundraising team to move forwards successfully and as one. I'd like to see us expanding our individual and corporate supporters and donors as well as providing interesting, innovative and individual ways for them to get involved with us. This will enable us to continue providing excellent services and support to those in need of cardiac care.
What would you say your strengths are regarding your position?
Having spent the previous four years working for the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) this has provided me with invaluable experience, knowledge and insight into the charity sector. I have a very strong events management background, am a meticulous planner and have excellent organisational and communication skills which I aim to share with WHB.
I know that it's a little premature but can you describe your typical day at Heartbeat?
My first two weeks were spent listening to and talking to all staff members and key external contacts in order to establish how we can move the charity forward in 2009. In the early weeks I'm expecting to be able to spend more time working on our future plans and getting the key procedures in place.
As events manager for the Jubilee Sailing Trust what did your job involve and what would you consider to have been a highlight of those four years?
My role entailed the planning and execution of all the major events, exhibitions and corporate days for the charity. There were several highlights to my career, from organising our 30th Anniversary Ball at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, organising two very successful black tie dinners with Christie's auctioneers at the Vintners Hall and Trinity House in London, to several regattas, a great evening with Alan Titchmarsh and too many others to mention!
What has been the pinnacle of your working life to date?
Most definitely being employed by Buckingham Palace to work in the office of HRH The Princess Royal, helping to organise her very busy working schedule.
And what has been the biggest achievement so far in your personal life?
Going to work in the Alps having only ever skied for three weeks prior to that and leaving a few years later regularly entering some very tough on and off piste ski competitions...not coming last and being able to teach my father to ski at that age of 59!
With the country in the grip of economic recession do you see the near future as being a particularly testing time for charities?
Yes, I believe that fundraising in an economic recession is going to be tough for charities but there are ways and means to fundraise and there is clearly money out there...Children in Need raised approx. £21 million this year!
Do you feel that people working in Third Sector jobs have to be more business-like than ever before in this economic climate?
Yes, to a certain extent, I believe that we have to be exceedingly professional at all times, whoever we are.
What other posts have you held in the past?
English teacher in schools in South America and Spain.
