Nine brilliant opportunities to help people dance to health

Welcome back to Charity Careers, in which freelance writer Nicola Greenbrook invites key influencers in the charity sector to share their career story and how they navigate the professional world. We discover what they've learned along the way, what motivates them to get up in the morning and what their dream breakfast might look like when they do... Kicking us off for 2020, Nicola was delighted to chat to Chris Oak, Associate Director - HR and Facilities for Society For The Protection Of Animals Abroad (SPANA) about his career, keeping your perspective, why he bounces out of bed in the mornings, giving back to the community, and an extraordinary commitment to Doctor Who… ​ Hi Chris. Please tell us a little bit more about SPANA and its mission? Put most simply, we believe any working animal is entitled to live a life free from pain. We facilitate this in a number of ways; free veterinary care, veterinary training (in some of the countries where we operate veterinarians receive no hands-on training whilst studying) community training and education programmes. The cornerstone of our work is the three ‘T’s - treat, train, teach. What are you responsible for? My role encompasses the full range of HR-related functions; looking after selection/recruitment/on-boarding, appraisal and one-to-ones, Learning and Development, organisation design, policies and procedures, support and business partnering for managers and disciplinary and grievance management. I provide support on teams and structures to the senior management team, advice to trustees on HR related matters and off-boarding and exit interviews. I also lead on all IT and premises-related aspects of SPANA which includes, room and desk allocation and IT projects. We’re currently out to tender for an integrated IT service that would include IT, telephony, printing, video conferencing and connectivity across our countries of operation. Is there a particular appeal or campaign you're focusing on in 2020? • Blindness - Every year, SPANA vets treat thousands of working animals facing sight loss. • Traditional practices - From pouring engine oil into an open wound to pressing scorching hot irons onto a working animal’s skin, traditional ‘cures’ seem barbaric. But owners that carry them out are trying to treat their animals in the only way they know how. • Lameness - Lameness is misery for thousands of working animals and is most commonly caused by problems in the feet. This suffering could be avoided with a simple solution – proper farriery. Where and how did you start your career? Were there any key roles along the way that helped your progression to Director? I began my career in Leisure Management, where I continued to work for 26 years in a variety of roles for a variety of employers. During this time I worked as a Manager, Deputy Manager, Gym Manager, coach and Personal Trainer, Marketing Manager and Sales Manager. I’ve also worked as a lecturer in PE, done youth work and was the Records Library Manager at University College Hospital. Had you planned to move into the charity sector? It wasn’t always my intention, but I’ve always been drawn to work where I feel I can make a difference to the lives of others. When I saw the (then-advertised) HR Manager role at SPANA and read the JD, I was very interested, especially when I read further into what the charity did. Although, admittedly, I hadn't heard of SPANA before then, having experience and a background in various forms of education meant I was very interested in the work SPANA does in that field. What advice would you give to, for example, graduates considering a move into charity or emerging leaders about to make their first leap into management or a director role? To graduates I'd say the most important thing is not so much their passion for the charity’s work but rather the role and its main purpose. Being excited about the work of the charity is the icing on the cake; but first and foremost must always be the ability to do the job. For emerging leaders - I’d always say, think of the additional responsibility that comes with moving into management. If you’re taking on team leadership for the first time, ensure you've gained skills in both management and leadership; so you can move beyond technical competency in your current area and towards being skilled at getting the best out of others. Similarly, for moving into a director-based role - there’s always a need for the ability to take the bird’s eye strategic view of the team and the organisation. As people move up the ladder, another key skill is the ability to effectively collaborate with colleagues at all levels and move beyond straight hierarchical methods of managing. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given, who gave it and why does it stick in your mind? Keep your perspective. I can’t remember exactly who said this, but I think it was one of the senior youth workers I worked with when I first started in that field. It sticks in my mind because I so often see - and have occasionally been dragged into the trap of - trying to do everything every day. We should always strive to do the best we can and help others achieve their best…but the world won’t end if the things we selected to do today don’t get done! What’s the most challenging aspect of your job? Bringing other managers to a point where they can recognise their own responsibility as managers, so HR can evolve into the business partnering role it should be; advising colleagues and moving away from being mostly a reactive service. What’s the best/most rewarding part? Seeing people flourish and moving on to new ways of working that engage a wider audience. Bringing change to the people element of the charity. What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career? Of all time, it was building children’s holiday activity programmes when I used to work in the leisure industry. In one case we started with no programme and no children, building up to a maximum of 130 children per day offering activities for children aged 5 – 16 years every holiday. At SPANA, I think it’s been the introduction of a more focused HR function taking control of a wide range of activities. In my past three roles (all new HR roles for growing organisations) it's been establishing HR as a standalone provision with a purpose, beyond ensuring the admin functions it was originally envisaged for are delivered. Who do you look up to - either in the charity sector or more generally? Very few and very many people! I think we can all take inspiration from the work of almost anyone around us - and should do this. Looking only at the top of the mountain sometimes obscures the great views to be obtained on the slopes. If I had to choose just one, I’d lean towards Richard Branson - more for his support for the development of all of his staff. As for a quote to live by I’d probably go for Charlie Chaplin: 'Life laughs at you when you are unhappy. Life smiles at you when you are happy. But, life salutes you when you make others happy’. Let's finish with some quick lifestyle questions: are you a snoozer or a spring-out-of-bedder? My alarm goes off at 6.00am - and I’m a spring-out-of-bedder! I almost always get up immediately and most days go out for a morning run in the park behind my house. What's your dream breakfast (and your actual breakfast?) Dream breakfast is either scrambled egg and smoked salmon or a full fry up. Most days I actually have either cereal, or boiled eggs with croissants. In either case it is always washed down with a large glass of water (I’m not a tea or coffee drinker). Is there such a thing as your typical day? NO such thing! Much of the work is reactive and unpredicted as I tend to spend quite a lot of time giving support and advice to managers in meetings, which I see as a key part of my role. I deal with organisational matters (payroll, pensions, benefit management etc.) as well as the usual bundle of ‘vital’ emails that arrive every day. What gets you out of bed in the morning, even when it’s cold and raining? I love the morning even if it is cold, dark and wet! I’ve always seen this as a magical time of day when it feels everything is made new ready for us. As a reflection of this, I’ll soon be launching a new activity for people in my local community called ‘Spirit Walks’. This will be held either at sunrise or sunset and once a month throughout the year, providing the opportunity for gentle contemplative walks in our park and to greet either sunrise or sunset with prayers, poems or reading that feel apposite. This will be open to everyone and free; part of what I consider to be my service to the community. What are you reading, watching or listening to at the moment? I don’t really do podcasts but I was watching Grimm recently. I’m a fan of Death In Paradise as well as Doctor Who (I’ve seen all of them in real time except the very first one, with William Hartnell as the Doctor!). I’m reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman as well as Marathon by Hal Higdon (I’ll be running two marathons and an ultra-marathon this year). What else do you do outside work? Lots of exercise has always been a key part of my ‘off work’ time, as well as community work. I served as chair of my local residents’ group for five years, organising various activities during that time. I'm also an active member of my faith; I am Baha’i (a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people) and have served the faith in a number of capacities over the years. And finally, what have you committed to do (or not do!) in 2020? As above, two marathons and one ultra-marathon (50 miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh) so far. I’ll be doing a couple of half-marathons too. I’m also committed to my monthly Spirit Walks as well as the free walks I lead in my local park every Saturday for all people which encompasses gentle walking with a range of functional exercises. Aside from that, I’ll also be trying to complete my second novel, a children’s story - I’m yet to find a publisher for my first children’s novel, but the search continues… Sounds like a very busy year for you, Chris! We wish you all the very best with your many endeavours, and thank you for taking the time to share your story and career insights with our readers. Nicola Greenbrook - HR Specialist and Freelance Writer Contact Nicola, check out her website, or follow her on Twitter - and to find out more about SPANA just click below to visit their website. More Charity Careers Charity Careers 1: Sara Rees, head of fundraising for Rays of Sunshine ► Charity Careers 2: Hannah Sanders, consumer brand partnerships, Save the Children ► Charity Careers 3: Andy Harris, director of income generation, Shelter ► Charity Careers 4: James Harris, Associate Director of Communications, Marketing and Membership, Rethink Mental Illness ► Back to the Harris Hill blog homepage ►

Yes, it might be the hoariest old recruitment headline for anything vaguely air-related, but in these fantastic roles with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex we genuinely believe it's what you'll do. Plus it was either that or 'New Year, New High-Flying Career!!' (for the benefit of anyone playing Recruitment Cliché Bingo), so let's count ourselves lucky and cut swiftly to introducing this brilliant organisation. Striving to deliver world-class, life-saving medical care all day, every day, the intrepid Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex team have been flying high and saving thousands of lives across South-East England for more than 30 years, and we’ve got fantastic opportunities for you to get on board. As an independent charity with strong support and even stronger demand for the service – last year alone they were called to help over 2,500 people in life-threatening conditions – they’re going from strength to strength and forging ahead with expansion plans, making it an exciting time to join the family. Right now they’re seeking talented professionals for these four key positions, all working from their main Rochester Airport base: Head of Governance & Compliance £38-44,000 Head of Brand & Marketing £35-40,000 Head of Communications £35-40,000 Database Manager £32,000 Why should you apply? What makes this such an inspiring organisation to work for is that it really does feel like one big extended family, with a friendly and supportive culture that's much loved by those already there. And even if your role is more about taking to social media than the skies of the South East, everything you do ultimately has a direct impact on saving people’s lives, so it couldn't be more rewarding. There are plenty more good reasons too, so click below to our Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex microsite for the full details! ► More from the Harris Hill blog • How to negotiate a pay rise in the charity sector ► • I QUIT! How to leave a job gracefully ► • How to write a great supporting statement ► • The Harris Hill and CharityJob 2019 Salary Report ► Return to the blog homepage ►

It’s hard to believe but the end of 2019 is nearly upon us. Not only the end of the year, but the end of a decade (according to some). Regardless of your view on when the new decade actually begins, most of us can probably agree it’s sped by. Balancing the festivities with work commitments makes for a busy time, and it can be tricky to stop and reflect. Yet, grabbing a few precious moments to consider the year that will soon be behind us can be worthwhile - and set you up nicely for the new one ahead. What have been your career highlights - or lowlights - this year? Have you been promoted or side-stepped into something more interesting? Has a challenging year on the work front been the catalyst to make a change in 2020? Have you thought about your aspirations for next year already? What will you do differently? Once again, I have been very fortunate to be a guest writer for Harris Hill in 2019 and contribute articles for the blog on a range of diverse and interesting subjects. This year, as well as interviewing two successful and inspirational charity professionals, I covered a broad range of topics from rejection to pre-holiday handovers, stress to keeping things fresh at work as well as highlighting the best charity podcasts. I’m pleased to present a round of up of my articles, and offer some suggestions for your own aspirations and ambitions for the new decade (or the last year of this decade, whichever way you lean!). January 2019 - I Quit! How to Leave a Job Gracefully I kickstarted the new year by tackling the often painful and emotionally complex issue of leaving your job. I explored why people feel a wide range of emotions when resigning from a role - whether they’ve held the position for 12 weeks or 12 years, set out some clear advice on what you should and shouldn’t do to ensure a graceful departure and provided some insight into how someone I know masterfully retracted a resignation without any awkwardness or embarrassment. I also shared some horror stories of my own, including when leaving speeches go bad and when leaving dos go even worse (clue: it involves the helpful services of a St John’s Ambulance first aider). 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will make decisions based on what is best for my career, and execute them gracefully and professionally* February 2019 - Charity Careers: Andy Harris Harris Hill’s Charity Careers series features interviews with inspiring individuals and success stories from the charity sector. As the interviewer, I always feel privileged to gain an insight into the inner workings of the UK’s most successful charities and what makes the people that run them tick. This month, I chatted to Andy Harris, Director of Income Generation for Shelter UK and invited him to share his own individual career story to date, tell us about his 350-strong team and the invaluable work they to do to fundraise for Shelter’s work for the homeless or those who do not have a safe home. I learnt about Andy’s resistance to getting stuck in ‘cosy corner’, how he keeps his skills and knowledge fresh and why he may be eating fruit for breakfast, but really he’s dreaming of a fry up in a greasy spoon to fuel his busy day… 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will not get too comfortable in cosy corner; I will be inquisitive, take risks and strive to do more* March 2019 - How to Turn Rejection into a Success Story For March’s article, I focused on one of the most awkward and painful experiences that spans our professional, social and personal worlds - rejection. *Shudder*. I shared the five stages of rejection and ways to navigate through them and told courageous and motivating stories from those who may have been rebuffed, but had gone on to achieve much, much better things - something that may not have been possible without fate stepping in. I explored why rejection may be the right time to consider reinvention, and why a brush-off can actually provide the chance to try something new and clear the way for the right opportunity; allowing you to think creatively about your career path. ​ 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will turn rejection on its head, and use it to fuel my career growth and purpose* April 2019 - How to Manage Stress at Work In April, to coincide with Stress Awareness Month, I faced head on some of the most pervasive but unwelcome players in the modern working game - stress, anxiety and burn out. Aiming to provide some guidance and support to those who were creaking under the weight of their to-do list, I highlighted the importance of paying attention to stress (described by a careers expert as ‘the business world’s silent killer) and considered stress in the current climate, finding that work-disrupting anxiety’ for Millennials was worryingly common. Via research and my own personal strategies for managing stress, I offered some advice to individuals and managers on moving from distress to de-stress at work - including working smarter not longer, not seeing rest breaks as ‘time away from work’ (and definitely not holding in a wee to finish one.more.thing) and the life-changing notion of saying NO. 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will recognise the signs of stress, seek guidance to manage it and prioritise my wellbeing* May 2019 - Charity Careers: James Harris In the second Charity Careers interview of 2019, we met James Harris, Associate Director of Communications, Marketing and Membership for Rethink Mental Illness. James gave us a fascinating insight into his career to date including how he fell out of love with politics (and they’re still not talking) and moved on to the third sector, why it’s a privilege to have a job where you get to bring about change on the issues you care about and why he looks inwardly to his own team to keep his skills fresh. James provided some great advice to graduates about being useful, creative and ready to deliver and made us envious that his dream breakfast is his actual breakfast. He also nearly converted me to a certain East London football team as part of his one-person evangelical mission. (Nearly. #cpfc) 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will try to be useful and creative and always deliver on something I’ve committed to* June 2019 - How to Switch Off Around mid-year, things were feeling rather busy and I realised I had a tendency to be ‘always on’. Fascinated, if not a little concerned, about our general inability to disengage from our jobs out of hours, or our phones pretty much all of the time, I explored why it was imperative for our health, productivity and wellbeing to not always be working. I reached out to others who found it difficult to unplug (the results were quite shocking), investigated the dangers to our health of the ‘always on’ mentality and offered some tips on how to switch off and reframe how, and why, you work the way you do. 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will aim to find a balance and focus on my professional accomplishments without comprising my mental wellbeing * July 2019 - How to Nail the Holiday Handover This month, my thoughts turned to going on a summer holiday and… the intense fortnight of frenzied preparation that often comes before a well deserved break. For those who also find it overwhelming to leave the office for a week or two, I was on hand to offer some advice on slick communication, creating the perfect handover note and why success is all in the planning. I warned against using a comedy OOO to get a LOL and also gave out some survival tips for anyone who was NOT going on holiday, but holding the fort instead. The result? Readers could swap desk-sandwiches for something delicious al fresco, lose themselves in a good book rather than a report and be safe in the knowledge that everything was in hand. 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will execute a successful holiday handover and keep my credibility, peace of mind and work relationships intact (and have a terrific break)* August 2019 - How to Negotiate a Pay Rise in the Charity Sector Harris Hill released its 2019 Salary Report, the 14th annual survey and definitive guide to salaries in the UK Charity Sector, in collaboration with CharityJob. It got me thinking about people in the sector who might be feeling a little short-changed after reading the fascinating results, and why asking for a salary increase in the charity world can be uniquely awkward. I set out to tackle this tricky dilemma by exploring the issues that comes with asking for more money (guilt, discomfort, modesty) and why feeling undervalued actually helps no-one in the long run. I helped you do your homework and prepare for the request; helping you determine your market value, drawing up a solid case for a pay review and how to ensure the meeting (gulp) runs smoothly - with a successful outcome. 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will not put-off a terrifying money talk and focus instead on my career progression and full earning potential long-term* September 2019 - How to Keep Things Fresh at Work Are you one of the 26% of Brits who are almost never happy at work? In September, I reached out to the Harris Hill blog readers who may have been feeling their work had got a little stale and in need a shake up. I considered how starting a new job can be a bit like a new relationship (who isn’t tempted by the alluring ‘attraction phase’ of job hunting and networking) and why it’s easy to slide into the disappointment stage (the ‘what have I done, I want to go back to my ex-job!’ panic when you’re confirmed in post). With in-depth, research-backed advice on how to spice up your work, look inward to your lovely colleagues and speak up if you need extra motivation as well as quick-fire tips including podcasts, desk spring cleans and jazzing up your work wardrobe, I aimed to help people move from disgruntled to delighted. 2020 Career Ambition: *If things feel stale at work, I will work stop, reflect and diagnose the issue rather than letting my discontentment intensify * October 2019 - How to Set Goals (And Stick to Them in Style) This month I turned my thoughts to goals (not just from a football perspective, although England were well on their way to qualifying for Euro 2020) and it was quite hard not to. In 2019, goals invaded social media (food, fitness, life, relationships etc) and seemed to be everywhere. There were even #beardgoals. Although most of us might be familiar with goal setting, I was keen to expand on this. So I considered not only why goals were important in our careers, but how to avoid getting too tangled up in the pursuit of them. I pushed the benefits of writing your goals down, backed up by university research, and also got a bit arty on you by reaching out to some ‘bullet journallers’ who had some creative inspiration to goal setting. I also asked an established career and business coach for some invaluable tips for smashing your #careergoals in no time at all. 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will take a meaningful, creative and structured approach to goal setting - and write my goals down* November 2019 – Podcast your way to workplace wellbeing Lastly, in November, the weather got chillier and the weeks got more frantic in the lead up to Christmas. So, I popped on my headphones and considered the benefits of the charity podcast to satisfy our curious, but frazzled, minds during busy periods and to aid our mental wellbeing and learning and development. With the help of experts at Harris Hill, I trawled through the varied and sometimes overcrowded podcast ecosystem and recommended a selection of useful charity podcasts - as well as some non-charity ones. Podcasts can help you discover new topics or trends, get away from your desk and are a multitasker’s dream - you can cook, file or even run at the same time as listening. So what are you waiting for? 2020 Career Aspiration: *I will consider the benefits of digital learning and have fun selecting the right podcast for me* It’s been an absolute pleasure writing for Harris Hill this year and I hope my articles have helped and inspired you in some way. Wishing you all a happy, healthy and successful 2020 and all the best for the festive season. Nicola x Contact Nicola, check out her snazzy website, or follow her on Twitter.

A better world for disabled children That’s the aim of Caudwell Children, the unique charity founded in 2000 by entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell, better known then as the man behind Phones 4U, and we’ve got five fantastic opportunities to be fundamental to their fundraising team. Specifically, they're seeking experienced fundraisers to join them as: • Head of Events • Philanthropy Manager • Partnerships Manager (x 3): three positions in which you'll focus on corporates, SMEs or government partnerships, depending on your skills and expertise About the charity With a vision to create a world where all disabled children and their families have choice, opportunity, dignity and understanding, the organisation reached a key milestone in May 2019 with the opening of the Caudwell International Children’s Centre. Based in the Science and Innovation Park at Keele University in Staffordshire, the centre is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility that's been purpose-built to deliver innovative services and ground-breaking research that could change the way some disabilities are treated, potentially affecting millions of people around the world. Now recognised as one of the fastest growing children’s charities in the UK, the organisation's running costs are fully covered through the unique association with the Caudwell family, allowing them say with legitimacy that 100% of direct donations are used to directly support disabled children. Naturally that's a real advantage for fundraisers, and just one of the factors that makes each of these key opportunities such an unusual and exciting proposition. So exciting in fact, that we couldn't do them justice with job ads alone, so we built a dedicated microsite to tell you much more about them and this unique organisation. Just click below to get started! More from the Harris Hill blog ► Top regional charity jobs for #UKCharityWeek 2019 ► And the winners of the Harris Hill Charity Series bowling AND our Golden Softballs competition are... ► The Harris Hill and CharityJob 2019 Salary Report

Can a podcast progress your career and improve your wellbeing? With a varied and often overcrowded podcast ecosystem, what should you listen to when time is precious and it's hard to keep up? For this month’s guest article, freelance writer and HR specialist Nicola Greenbrook is plugging in her headphones and checking out the best charity, career and all-round useful podcasts. Podcasts aren’t a new thing. A portmanteau of the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast', defined by Wikipedia as 'an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download in order to listen’, the first podcast is commonly believed to have been published in October 2003. Actor, writer and director Matt Schichter had launched a weekly radio chat show called The BackStage Pass, with The Beach Boys and B.B. King as guests, recorded live and transcoded to audio for ‘dial-up online streaming’. Later known as ‘Matt Schichter Interviews’, the first podcast as we know it was born. A year later, journalist Ben Hammersley created the term ‘podcasting’ for what was then a nascent technology - and we’ve never looked back. The rise of the super podcast Fast forward sixteen years later and we’ve gone all-out podcast-fanatical. Writing for Third Sector at the beginning of this year, award-winning digital communications consultant, writer and trustee Kirsty Marrins predicted that 2019 would be the year of the charity podcast. Her prognosis wasn’t wrong. According to Ofcom, around 7.1 million of us in the UK now listen to podcasts every week. That’s one in eight people, and a 24% increase over the past year - and more than double over the past five years. We just can't get enough of them; on average those who are regular podcast enthusiasts listen to around seven podcasts a week. That’s a lot of podcasts. Podcasts are also big business. Spotify reported in the summer that its podcast audience has grown by over 50 percent since the last quarter, and almost doubled since the start of the year. They recently redesigned its app to focus on podcasts, with 500,000 podcast titles available on the platform. Again, that's a lot of podcasts. The benefits of being a podcast enthusiast There’s no escaping it, winter is on its way and with that comes the frantic, multi-tasking lead up to Christmas. Attempting to balance the getting everything finished at work by the end of the year with social commitments and festive celebrations can feel like a commotion. Inevitably, focusing on your personal learning and development, enhancing your skills or broadening your knowledge base is often put on the back burner. That's where podcasts can come in. Challenging though it is in some respects, wintertime and frosty weather can also offer the perfect time to focus on podcasts as the nights (or should I say, 4.30pm) draws in and when you’re keen stay inside at lunchtime. Informative but relaxing and, arguably, better for our minds than a quick scan of our smartphone, listening to a podcast can provide an excellent way to satisfy curious, but frazzled, minds during busy periods. The CIPD recognises the progression of digital learning, which includes the use of podcasts. It has become a viable way of training and developing people at work and can often be part of an organisation's wider learning strategy. Getting into podcasts means you have a continuously available learning reference which you can access from anywhere at anytime; you could get in to work early and listen for a while over your morning coffee before the day really begins or go for a walk at lunchtime while listening. Further benefits include: • Access to a wide variety of podcasts that can broaden your knowledge and help you to discover new topics or trends in your sector, specialism or beyond • Podcasts can provide a helpful bank of knowledge from which to learn new self-care strategies and aid mental health • They can help to regain your motivation if you feel it has been dwindling, and help you to keep things fresh at work • The motivation and encouragement to help you get away from your screen or smartphone at lunchtime - and if you’re walking then you've effortlessly added in some exercise too • For multitaskers; you could even podcast while filing, preparing your lunch in the office kitchen or even cooking at home later than evening (just don't forget to intersperse this with human interaction too!) The podcast market is swarming, so don't let the wrong choice ruin your commute or your lunch break. Here's a selection of useful podcasts that you might want to get stuck into: Charity Digital Podcast Examining key topics and issues surrounding digital technology in the charity sector. In Good Company This successful monthly podcast with author and founder of Women Who, Otegha Uwagba, features practical advice, ideas and interviews with inspiring and successful women to help women get to where they want to be. Third Sector The monthly podcast from the UK’s leading publication for all things voluntary and not-for-profit sector. Recent topics have included what happens when your small charity goes viral, racism and representation in the charity sector and social media crisis communications. Untangle Patricia Karpas and Ariel Garten interview a wide range of authors, experts and thought-leaders and discuss topics including mindfulness, brain health practices, leadership, life and more. Each episode aims to teach you how to slow down, reduce your stress levels and create a feeling of calm when you need it most. CIPD The podcast series from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development focuses on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues which are useful to non-HR professionals too. In Focus In conjunction with Marriott Hotels and chaired by journalist and podcast host Pandora Sykes, this inspirational series is designed to empower individuals to pave their own way to success and includes advice, guidance and practical tips for those who want to get ahead in their careers. The Do More Good Podcast A light-hearted discussion on professional development and fundraising in the charity sector, with guests from the industry sharing their experience and insight. Recorded informally across Central London pubs. How to Fail with Elizabeth Day A podcast that celebrates the things that haven’t gone right. Every week, a new interviewee explores what their failures taught them about how to succeed better. Charity Chat Fortnightly podcast from the not-for-profit forum for learning, and contribution to encourage social commentary. Quality content with a conversational tone. Finally, Kirsty Marrins shared her ten sector podcasts that she thought you need to know about earlier this year. ----- Podcasts can help you learn, focus and broaden your mind as well as look after yourself. There’s a podcast out there for everyone and everything - have fun choosing yours! Nicola Greenbrook - HR Specialist and Freelance Writer Contact Nicola, check out her brand new website, or follow her on Twitter. More from Nicola Greenbrook: ► Charity Careers 4: meet James Harris of Rethink Mental Illness ► How to set goals (and stick to them in style) ► How to negotiate a pay rise in the charity sector Back to the blog homepage ► ​

We’ve genuinely been so busy placing brilliant charity professionals* all week that we’ve yet to properly celebrate #UKCharityWeek, though do check the Twitter feed to see what others have been up to. Thankfully nothing says celebration like a hastily-cobbled-together blog, so here's a whistlestop tour of some of our top charity jobs around the country right now, just in the nick of time. * Every time this occurs by the way, a celebratory choon of the consultant's choice is briefly blasted out here at Harris Hill HQ to great delight (and some rather less-great singing). Since they’re rather good at this recruitment lark, this can happen many times a day. However, being December it's Christmas songs all the way, on which the blog will say only this: don't feel too bad if you mess up an interview this month. Yes, you might not get the job, but you’ve probably spared someone 30 seconds of Slade and if that isn’t making a difference to society we genuinely don’t know what is. Back to the matter in hand though, and unlike every UK weather forecast you’ve ever seen, let’s start in the North and work down. ​ LEEDS, WEST YORKSHIRE Director of Finance and Resources (6 - 9 months) We're in Leeds first of all, here in the heart of the Northern Powerhouse - which will be brilliant just as soon as we’ve got some power. And some houses. We jest of course, because as anyone who already does will tell you, Leeds is a fantastic place to live and work, well-connected and thriving with all the arts and attractions, retail and restaurants, sports facilities and splendid architecture you could ever need. Not to mention a quality of life that many of us crammed into the lower corner of the country can only dream of in our cupboard-sized flats. This is a 6 to 9-month interim role with considerable responsibility, which is reflected in the salary of £61,000 per annum (pro rata) plus company benefits, or a day rate for the right person. Click the job title (or here) for the full ad, and our finance specialist Simon Bascombe is the man in the know if you’d like to find out more. KEELE, STAFFORDSHIRE • Associate Director of Resources • Head of Events • Philanthropy Manager • Partnerships Manager x 3 To the other side of the Peak District now, and while it might seem like one of those places that only exists in the minds of motorway services planners – Charnock Richard, Leigh Delamere, Gordano-for-heaven’s-sake, 'Reading' - it turns out that Keele is both real and more than just an opportunity for overpriced sausages on the M6. It’s got a highly-regarded university for starters, home to the Keele Science and Innovation Park, which is where you’ll find the brand new, state-of-the-art Caudwell International Children's Centre. Founded in 2000 by the hugely successful entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell, then better known as the man behind Phones 4U, Caudwell Children has a vision to create a better world for all disabled children, and is now one of the fastest-growing children’s charities in the UK. They’ve got ambitious plans for the future too, hence our current search for six new fundraising professionals to join their 53 existing full-time staff, but there’s so much more to tell you that we’ve created a Caudwell Children microsite specifically for that purpose - go check it out! Demonstrating an equally innovative and ambitious approach to the term ‘South West’, Ben Pountney of our South West office in Bath is your contact for more on these superb opportunities. BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDLANDS Head of Corporate Development An hour down the aforementioned M6 brings us to Britain’s second-biggest city - just don't mention this in Manchester - where we have a fabulous (darling) opportunity with one of Birmingham’s best loved theatres. Once at the heart of the West Midlands' car manufacturing industry, Birmingham has since moved on to other leading roles and currently stars as one of Britain's best-kept secrets, continually surprising unsuspecting audiences with how nice it is these days. As Head of Corporate Development for the theatre you’ll focus on fundraising, developing a corporate development strategy, establishing and building partnerships and (hopefully) delivering lots of lovely income as a result. And in the role of 'corporate fundraising specialist who'd be delighted to tell you more', ladies and gentlemen, please would you welcome...Miss Hannah Laking! CHESHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Community Fundraiser Legend has it that around the turn of the 11th century a large group traversing the country in search of Amersham became lost in the Chilterns, where they happened upon a similar group traversing eastwards in search of the mythical Cheshunt (probably to resolve some longstanding beef with Tesco). Tired of traversing, and each tribe declaring the other ‘quite fit, actually’, they settled and thus was the town of ‘Chesham’ created, after narrowly-but-wisely rejecting ‘Amershunt’ in a town hall vote. These days, due to its position as the very last stop, it's almost exclusively populated by people who've fallen asleep on the Metropolitan line. Admittedly these tales may not bear scrutiny by fact-checkers – even the fake ones – but what’s undoubtedly true is that we have a brilliant opportunity for a community fundraiser in the Chesham area to join a small but mighty organisation. Cardiomyopathy UK is the specialist national charity for people affected by this type of heart disease, providing support and information services, raising awareness of the condition, campaigning for better access to quality treatment, and promoting research. It’s a wide-ranging role where everything you do will make an impact - one of the benefits of smaller charities - and our community fundraising specialist Harriett Stevens has all the details if you’d like to know more. BRISTOL, er...BRISTOL Supporter Care and CRM Manager Individual Giving Fundraiser Westward bound now, to a Fairtrade city and the first in the UK to win European Green Capital status in 2015, named the UK’s most environmentally friendly in 2017 and World Vegan Capital in 2018, a UNESCO City of Film that’s been declared the kindest and most artistic in the UK, voted best city to live in by the Sunday Times in 2014 and 2017, and one of the ten happiest cities to work in by The Guardian. Albeit only at number ten so y’know, pull your finger out Bristol. Yep, it’s fair to say that Bristol has pretty much everything going for it, and these days that even includes a nearby Harris Hill office, where our South West specialist Charlie Webb would love to hear if you’re interested in one of these excellent roles. Both based in Bristol itself, the first leads on supporter care for a conservation trust, helping to sustain the region's vital nature reserves, while the other is in individual giving for a well-established and highly influential disability charity with international reach and ambitions. Check them out here and here and do get in touch with Charlie if your boat has been duly floated. ​ SIDMOUTH, DEVON Chair and Trustees For the last leg it’s straight through 'Gordano country' and down to the idyllic Devon coast for our final resting place at The Donkey Sanctuary, an all-too-plausible outcome in so many of our lives, we suspect. That said, there are few better places to end up than the beautiful home of the world’s leading authority on donkeys and mules and one of the world’s largest equine welfare charities, with ten sanctuaries around the UK and Europe and reaching approximately 1.8 million donkeys and mules in almost 40 countries worldwide. They’re a fantastic organisation for whom we’ve recruited a number of roles before, so there’s a wealth of further information on our Donkey Sanctuary microsite available here. Meanwhile the posts we’re currently working on are for three key members of the board: the chair of the board of trustees, and two of those very trustees, one with expertise in finance and the other in the management of property and estates. Naturally our very own leading authority on all things equine is your contact for these positions, Mr Ben Pountney. That’s the end of our tour for now, but while December’s traditionally a quiet time in recruitment world, we’re bucking the trend and starting to add new jobs for January 2020 already, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the site if you’re contemplating a new year move. View all jobs ► Meanwhile we hope you’ve had a fantastic #UKCharityWeek 2019, and if we don't speak before, have a great Christmas too! Team HH x More from the Harris Hill blog ► And the winners of this year's Charity Series bowling (and our Golden Softballs competition) are... ► How to set goals and stick to them in style ► The Harris Hill & CharityJob 2019 Salary Report ​

Yes, it’s time to roll out the big box of bowling puns and fire them at Will (sorry mate), because we have results from the knockout Harris Hill Charity Series Bowling Night 2019! What's more, we’ve also tracked down the big box of darts puns (I say box, it’s more of a padded bag for safety reasons) to report from the fabulous Flight Club, where we recently took the winners of our regrettable unforgettable Golden Softballs competition! Confused yet? Stick around. We’re talking darts, assorted balls, free drinks and competitive charities. What could possibly go wrong? L-R: Citizens Advice celebrate, Team HH take on the name-typing challenge, and a blue box for layout purposes. Bowl up, bowl up! To London's Finsbury Park first of all, where the good people of Rowans Tenpin Bowling once again did a fantastic job of hosting the big charity bowling night, coping admirably as the best part of 40 kind and caring charity teams descended on the venue determined to knock defenceless skittles into next week. Team Harris Hill were on hand with beers, pizzas and almost-priceless medals which we were in no danger of taking home again this time, as it was soon clear that whatever skills delivered our shock 2018 score had been safely jettisoned over the course of the year. So which of the capital’s charities is top of the tenpin pops? Here’s the top ten rundown, with a quick caveat: some organisations love bowling so much that they have enough enthusiasts for two or more teams, some of whom did pretty well! But to give more charities their due, rather than anyone going the full Sheeran and taking up half the top ten, we've just counted their best performance towards our chart. One organisation we'd otherwise be seeing twice are at number one, so we hope they won’t mind too much: many congratulations to the champion bowlers of Citizens Advice! Just one solitary skittle separated the top two, putting Parkinson’s UK in super-close second, taking over from last year’s silver medallists GOSH, who nonetheless stayed safely inside the top three. All of which saw former chart-toppers and long-term top three residents Age UK strike out at no.4 (though they're sure to return), while our highest climber at no.5 isn't just one charity but a supergroup of stars from several – the Band Aid of the bowling charts, if you will - namely the committee! As the people who make it all possible, this was their second of three games on the night, and if we weren't implementing the Sheeran rule (see above), you'd also be seeing their first score at no.9! Game three, not so much: fatigue had clearly started to set in by then, while the bar having been open for several hours is entirely unrelated information. Rounds of applause to the highest individual scorers too: Will from team Macmillan with 167, Tommy from Parkinson’s UK giving them a second silver with 168, but out in front with 175, winning double gold for the team while simultaneously making ‘top female bowler’ redundant as a separate category, Sarah from Citizens Advice! Thanks from all of us for a great night, congratulations to all the teams and we hope to see you somewhere in the 2020 Series, kicking off with the quiz night in February or so, followed by the return of softball. Which brings us to some competition news... L-R: the lovely Vauxballs, popstrels Little Mix, and Harris Hill's Harriett, Dagmara, Hannah and Harriet. The first rule of Flight Club …is that - well, you know, so we’ll just briefly whisper that the winners of our 2019 Golden Softballs competition, comprising numerous neighbouring charities from this very parish, were none other than the Vauxballs! This year’s prize was a (double) top night out for the team at Flight Club, the home of social darts, which as we've explained before (hey, if you can't #recycle in a #climateemergency...) is exactly like anti-social darts except that you throw them at a board rather than other people in the bar. Victoria was the chosen venue, and while the Harris Hill blog couldn’t be there in person, its trusted representatives report that venue, staff, food and drinks all firmly hit the bullseye, as did the aforementioned Vauxballs who were a real delight to spend the evening with! Our sincere thanks to them and indeed to every single person (of whom there were hundreds!) who took the time to trawl through our stickers, gather the codes and enter the competition. And should you inexplicably wish to see what they went through but without the prospect of winning anything at the end of it, simply click below. Meanwhile a very Merry Christmas (if we don't speak before) and look out for more events news in the new year! Team HH x More from the Harris Hill blog​ How to set goals (and stick to them in style) They’ve invaded social media, attached themselves to everything from food and fitness to life itself, and even the nation’s footballers seem to have rediscovered them (sometimes). Yes, goals are definitely in, but how do you set them and more importantly, stick to them? Freelance writer, HR specialist and our guest blogger Nicola Greenbrook has a wealth of helpful advice. Read more... What should you be earning in your charity job? Don't miss the Harris Hill & CharityJob 2019 Salary Report, the essential guide to UK charity salaries. With market insights from our sector specialists and the expert team at CharityJob, you'll find more than 350 current rates for roles in 26 job functions, based on over 45,000 recent charity vacancies. Read more... How to negotiate a pay rise in the charity sector If the rates in our 2019 Salary Report leave you feeling a little short-changed, what next? Requesting a raise in the charity sector can be uniquely awkward: feeling undervalued helps no-one, but what if more for you means less for those in need? Guest writer and freelance HR specialist Nicola Greenbrook tackles this tricky dilemma. Read more... Back to the blog homepage ►

They’ve invaded social media, attached themselves to everything from food and fitness to life itself, and even the nation’s footballers seem to have rediscovered them (sometimes). Yes, goals are definitely in, but how do you set them and more importantly, stick to them? Tackling the question is our guest blogger, freelance writer and HR specialist Nicola Greenbrook, who's here with some helpful advice... Goals, goals everywhere. There are #relationshipgoals, #lifegoals, #couplegoals, #entrepreneurgoals. Even #deskgoals and #beardgoals. At the time of writing this article, 80 million Instagram posts are tagged with #goals and 733,000 with #careergoals. That's a lot of goals. Many of us should be familiar with goal-setting in our working lives; from early objectives set during probation to the agreement of individual and development targets at appraisal. Outside of work, smartphones and activity trackers such as the Fitbit help us to stay motivated and improve our health. Yet with the pressure to set, commit to and smash our life and career goals, it's no wonder goal setting can feel a little overwhelming at times, and why even the SMARTest and well-intended targets often fall by the wayside. In this month’s article, I’m considering why goals are important, how to avoid getting too tangled up in the pursuit of them and recommending ways to set and stick to your objectives with a little artistic support. First, the theory Social media may encourage us to live our best lives, practice self-improvement and aspire to other people’s intentions, but goal setting is not new. In 1968, American psychologist Dr. Edwin A. Locke pioneered goal-setting theory in his groundbreaking article 'Toward a theory of task motivation and incentives’, and together with Dr. Gary Latham, jointly established the positive relationship between clearly identified goals and performance. According to the 2016 CIPD technical report ‘Rapid evidence assessment of the research literature on the effect of goal setting on workplace performance’, goals affect performance through four causal mechanisms (Latham 2004) that are relevant at work; which include: ► Serving a direction function, so our attention and effort is drawn to goal-relevant activities, rather than irrelevant ones (Twitter etc). ► An energising purpose; harder goals require more effort and hard graft than easy ones that, although satisfying to cross off the list or feel pleased about in your appraisal, only come with a short-term satisfaction. ► If we have goals in place, they allow us to discover and/or use task-relevant knowledge and strategies; which makes us not only a clever clogs, but increases the odds for success (Locke and Latham 2002). In summary, goals serve an important purpose. But what happens when goals go rogue? The downside of goal pursuit Are you an overachiever? Do you get a buzz from setting numerous goals and a rush of satisfaction when you achieve them? Or do you feel unfulfilled rather than accomplished? Have you become a bit obsessed by your targets? Always on the hunt for something bigger and better to strive for, focusing less on intrinsic value and more on external rewards and internal or social comparison? You’re not alone. A fixation on goals can be counterproductive and lead to poor decision making if we become too emotionally attached to ambitious goals at work. A single-minded pursuit can prevent us from learning from problems along the way and considering alternatives or lead us to make terrible decisions - all in the relentless quest of reaching our target and 'ticking it off'. In ‘Destructive Goal Pursuit - The Mt Everest Disaster’, business professor D. Christopher Kayes draws upon real-life stories, including the 1996 Mount Everest climbing disaster where eight people died near the summit. He argues that the climbers were so focused on the attainment of their goal that it caused them to overlook serious problems along the way - such as decreased oxygen and bottlenecks. He coined the term ‘goalodicy’; the obsessive pursuit of goals to the point of self-destruction. Whether planning an extreme expedition or preparing an annual report, it's easy to get a bit caught up in our own form of goalodicy. A useful strategy is to approach your goals meaningfully, examine the process more closely and ask yourself why you’re doing it - rather than ruthlessly conquering a target and immediately focusing on the next one. Goal setting can be daunting, so breaking your main target up into smaller ones can be an effective way of making the process seems less terrifying. Put pen to paper If you find yourself (and your goals) a little out of control, there are ways to regain the drive and motivation. Sometimes, simply writing them down can be a fast track to achievement. Speaking to Stylist magazine, Debbie Wosskow, entrepreneur and co-founder of The Allbright, a London networking club for women in business, says that she clearly writes down her personal and business goals in a notebook every New Year’s Eve. This allows her to check progress, review whether the goal is important and still relevant and stay on track. Meanwhile a recent study from Dominican University found that people who scribbled down their goals and kept track of their progress at least once a week accomplished significantly more than those who didn’t. Or go one further: bujo! Bullet journalling - or 'bujo' - is a great way to get your goals down on paper, release your creative side and build in some self-care too. It's essentially a notebook-organisation system and artfully annotated to-do list which promises to help you achieve your goals and declutter your mind. Devotees of the practice have also added a creative and performative aspect to bullet journalling by adding hand-drawn illustrations and decorative spreads. Bullet journalling not only helps create a structure and a plan and stick to it, it can be calming and meditative too - a bit like using an adult colouring book. Helen Colebrook is an HR consultant from Devon and creator of the popular @JournalWithPurpose. She started using journals around four years ago and believes it can be inspiring and motivating to see how others manage their time. Whilst Helen admits that it can take a little more time than a usual to-do list, and it is of course important to carefully balance planning with the actual delivery at work, she also believes it encourages better time management and reflection. A bullet journal has been proven to be more than just a pretty list; according to Forbes, vividly describing your goals in written form is strongly associated with goal success, and people who very vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals than people who don’t. I recently attended a business network event and observed many of the participants already successfully ‘bujo-ing’ and reaping the benefits when it came to goal attainment. (I felt rather pedestrian with a plain notebook full of unruly Post-Its and enthusiastic scribbles). ​ 'Bujo': far less rude than it sounds, and not just for people with too much time on their hands And finally… Career and business coach, Nathalina Harrison has some great takeaway tips on goal setting: ► The practice of goal setting is not a waste of time, or a distraction from your 'real work’. If you don't know what you are trying to achieve in detail, how can you expect to get there? Schedule in time to do it too or it might never get done. ► Annual and quarterly goals are a good place to start to make the process feel more manageable ► If you find you’re not achieving your goals, don’t beat yourself up about it. It could be time to revisit, reflect and review at the end of the month/quarter and have a good think about why. Did you over-schedule? Are you up to your eyes in it with other stuff? Could it be that, deep down, you may not care about the goal or believe in it? Discuss it with your manager and consider letting it go... ► Set yourself a dream goal; one that gets you really excited and motivated. Then let your other goals service this one. ................... With a meaningful, flexible and creative approach to goal setting - written down of course - you’ll be smashing your #careergoals in no time at all. Nicola Greenbrook - HR Specialist & Freelance Writer Contact Nicola, check out her brand new website, or follow her on Twitter. More from Nicola Greenbrook: ► Charity Careers 4: meet James Harris of Rethink Mental Illness ► How to keep things fresh at work ► How to negotiate a pay rise in the charity sector Don't miss the Harris Hill & CharityJob 2019 Salary Report...the essential guide to UK charity salaries. With market insights from our sector specialists and the expert team at CharityJob, you'll find more than 350 current rates for roles in 26 job functions, based on over 45,000 recent charity vacancies. More from the blog: