During my internship I carried out a variety of tasks including creating budgets for numerous fundraising applications, including the Big Lottery which involved using Full Cost Recovery. I regularly corresponded with trustees, accountants, potential funders and various other stakeholders which greatly improved my communication skills.
I helped with the arrangements for the Vintage Fayre, researching and compiling sample menus for afternoon tea, including what to serve and how much to charge. I also constructed an income projection for this event providing us with an encouraging goal to work towards.
Other tasks involved amending and updating the organisation’s risk register, checking that the trustees report conforms with the template given by the Charity Commission, drafting a business plan for a future fundraising event, and carrying out a cost and benefit analysis of the organisation’s services.
I attended training courses on Advanced Level Excel, Understanding Final Accounts and Budgets and Cash Flow which were very valuable both for my role at WBAF and for the future.
I was given a lot of responsibility for example, when the volunteer manager was not in I was left in charge of letting people in the building, locking up, looking after the petty cash and paying fellow volunteer’s expenses.
From this experience I have greatly improved my computing skills and Excel skills in particular, both through the training and through regular use. I have also gained a lot of knowledge about financial matters and the not-for profit sector which will be very beneficial.
I feel that my time here has given me good experience of finance and of generally working in an office environment which will be of great use for my future career. It has also allowed me to apply information I have learnt in my degree to real life situations.
My work has benefitted the organisation primarily through my work towards fundraising applications which has meant that the organisation has been able to secure much needed funding which will subsequently help many families. In addition my work towards the Vintage Fayre led to the event being very successful and further added to the organisation’s income.
