Stroud-based Jo Jeffery set up Full Circle Consultancy last year with a view to work with charities and help them recover after the tumultuous years of the pandemic.
“It has been so incredibly hard for the charitable sector,” said Jo.
“I am a Trust and Foundations Fundraiser with a particular interest in children, families, health and education (although to be quite honest there are so many amazing charities doing wonderful things it’s hard to limit my work).
“Whilst I am currently working a contract for the brilliant Meningitis Now, most of my charities are based all over the country from London to Northamptonshire. The bonus of the pandemic is that distance working has become somewhat the norm.”
Jo spent her early career in local government strategy and policy after graduating in Sociology and Social Policy in 2000: “I moved to the charitable sector in 2008 after my eldest child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I was introduced to the wonderful charity Read for Good in 2011 and volunteered for them when my youngest started nursery.
“I actually ended up working for Read for Good for seven years and had such brilliant experiences. It was a solid foundation to springboard my business from.
“The charitable sector does so much incredible work and as we tentatively step in to 2023 I know the sector is needed more than ever. With the cost-of-living crisis families are faced with such hardship yet charities are finding it hard themselves to sustain income, recruit and retain individuals. Our difficulties are yet to ease and there is nothing more hopeful and humbling that working with charities to see the good in people and organisations.”
Jo says highlights of 2022 included volunteering for the Five Valleys Walk with Meningitis Now: “That was incredibly special to see such an iconic community event back after the pandemic, winning a National Lottery Awards for All grant for a tiny charity called Hope for Families and visiting a school in Birmingham to discuss their reading recovery work with UK Reads. Ultimately, working with some just brilliant and dedicated people across the sector who are welcoming, kind and always ready to embrace difficult conversations.
“My plans are to carry on working to build capacity and income in the charitable sector with organisations that I feel closely aligned with.”
