4 minute read
Meet The Fundraiser
Tell us about your role at Forest Holme?
Next month it will be five years since I joined Forest Holme Hospice Charity as a Community Fundraiser. My job is to build long-term relationships with individuals, community groups and local companies, encouraging as many of them as possible to support the hospice. I support them with all their fundraising activities, whether that be holding a bake sale, raffle, sponsored walk - anything at all! I present to local groups and organisations about Forest Holme, trying to raise awareness about the work we do supporting patients and families and I organise events to fundraise for the hospice including Bingo nights, Barn Dances, Scavenger Hunts and even a Halloween Dance-a-Thon to name just a few.
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I am also the charity’s fundraising volunteer coordinator. We are so lucky to have an amazing group of loyal and committed volunteers and many of our events just couldn’t happen without them.
What is the best thing about your job?
I love my job! It’s so varied and that’s what keeps it so interesting. One day I could be at an event climbing over inflatable obstacles in a field, the next I’ll be driving around in a fire engine hosting a bucket collection. I get to meet so many different people from all walks of life and it's incredible how generous our supporters are. I feel very honoured and privileged to work for such a wonderful charity and feel proud when I tell people that I work for Forest Home Hospice, a charity
14 Get to know one of Forest Holme’s Community Fundraisers. Kirsty Perks shares what she loves about her job, the challenges of fundraising during the pandemic and her engagement to...Les Dennis?
that makes such a difference to so many individuals - not just patients but their family and friends too. I am from Birmingham originally so I had never really heard of Forest Holme until my best friend's Dad became a patient. I saw the care that he received but also how they looked after the entire family. So I decided to get involved in fundraising for the charity with the company l used to work for.
Unfortunately Len never got to see me work at Forest Holme. But without him I would never have even gone for the job, he was a very special man and I have him to thank for inspiring me to apply for the job that I now do and love!
What don’t you like about your job (if anything!)?
Anyone that knows me, knows that I like to talk. I struggle sitting still so l don't really enjoy looking at a screen for hours writing emails. I would much rather pick up the phone and talk to someone or be out and about. My grammar and spelling is also shocking, ask any of the team who often help me with getting my ‘their’ and ‘there’ right and my ‘to’ and ‘too’.
How has the coronavirus pandemic affected you and your role?
I’m an extrovert and I love being around people so I have struggled with not being able to have physical contact, I’m a hugger! I have missed not being in the hospice every day and the banter with all the hospice clinical and admin staff who are all amazing people. We are a very close knit team, for me they are not just people I work with but my they are my friends too.
Coronavirus has meant that we have had to cancel the majority of our fundraising events and activities over the past year and that has been really tough because of course it has meant that we have not raised the money that we usually would have but also that we haven’t been able to see our wonderful supporters.
We have had to learn and adapt especially with all things digital and online. Thank goodness I have the support of a great team and my children who have helped their Mum become more computer savvy!
What are you hoping for in the year ahead?
I am looking forward to being back in the hospice and being with the whole team again, arguing over who's turn it is to make the next cuppa. Seeing supporters and volunteers in person and not over Zoom and being able to thank them for staying with us and for their loyal support during the pandemic. It has meant so much.
I can’t wait to get back to hosting actual events again. Our ‘’Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ event that we usually hold in June is one of my favourites and also ‘Dance Through the Decades’ at Christmas is so much fun, so fingers crossed that this year, these events can go ahead as planned.
And finally, tell us something about yourself that we may not already know?
In 1999 l was a contestant on Family Fortunes, with my two aunties, sister and cousin. We got to the final but didn't win the holiday. I was lucky enough to win a special prize, a voucher to buy a diamond ring, I used it to buy my engagement ring. I often tell my husband l am really engaged to Les Dennis.
