Jenny Stephens
Secondee, Charity Next, Initiatives
I spent nine months on a Charity Next secondment to Blenheim Community Drug Project from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. I was responsible for developing and implementing a funding strategy for the organisation. Alongside this, in partnership with the project managers, I wrote bids for various funding streams. One of these bids was successful and resulted in a substantial three year grant.
Working in the third sector was a very different experience to working in the public sector, although some of the challenges are similar, particularly when faced with delivering as efficiently as possible. I really feel that the most valuable lesson that I can take from my experience is that policy decisions effect everyone and consultation with the people doing the job is vital to develop solid policies and make sound decisions. I have great memories of my time in the third sector. The passion and drive that the sector has is both inspirational and infectious and I will definitely be keeping in touch with the people at Blenheim CDP.
