Supporting the Founder of a Fledgling Disability Group
Client Story : BikeActive Norfolk
The Challenge
BikeActive Norfolk, a newly registered charity, was established to help individuals with any disability experience the freedom, joy, and exhilaration of cycling. While the Founder had a clear vision and well-defined objectives, he faced challenges in translating his ideas into a successful operation. With 30 years of experience as a police officer but no background in fundraising, business planning, volunteer management, or the key functions needed to run a sustainable charity, he needed guidance to turn his vision into reality.
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The Solution
I worked closely with the Founder over four months, offering mentoring and tailored advice to lay the foundations for a sustainable charity. Through five Zoom meetings, I gained an understanding of the organisation’s needs and provided practical guidance on several critical areas. This included building a pipeline of prospective funders, identifying funding opportunities, and how to craft applications that aligned with funders’ expectations.
I also advised on strategies for recruiting, motivating, and retaining volunteers, ensuring they were equipped to deliver safe and enjoyable cycling sessions in the Founder’s absence. Governance was another key focus, as I provided advice on trustee duties, training requirements, and implementing robust processes and procedures. Together, we worked on establishing systems to collect feedback and data from beneficiaries, emphasising its importance for refining services and demonstrating impact.
The Results
BikeActive Norfolk successfully secured essential funding, established strong operational frameworks, and developed a team of dedicated volunteers who were well-trained, enthusiastic, and able to run cycling sessions safely and effectively. As a result, the charity is now well-positioned to continue delivering its inspiring mission and making a lasting impact on its beneficiaries.
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What They Said
I very much enjoyed these sessions, I learnt a lot to help make the next years running BikeActive Norfolk, successful and fun, for clients, volunteers and our Trustees. Phyllida’s input and knowledge has led to this being a very positive experience. … The work you did with me on behalf of BikeActive Norfolk was pivotal to our running and expanding and I am very grateful for your help, and always will be.
Let’s Secure the Funding Your Charity Deserves
Your beneficiaries depend on your success, and I’m here to ensure you have the tools to deliver. Whether you need strategic advice, bid-writing expertise, or training, let’s start the conversation.
