Tag Archives: charity

Ask the Intern : A Q&A session via Facebook

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On the 19th of March, I went from observing webchats to actually answering the questions that people wanted to ask. I have recently finished my Social Media Internship at Macmillan Cancer Support and agreed to take part in a discussion about what I did and what I gained. You can view the actual thread here but I wanted to go through and answer a few of the questions again in full.

1. What is an Intern?

The answer I gave :
An internship is a great way to get involved, build on existing skills or explore a change of career. Some other interns have written about their experience as well as their roles http://www.macmillan.org.uk/GetInvolved/Volunteer/Internships/InternshipCaseStudy.aspx.

Additional thoughts
An intern is someone who is looking to gain experience within a certain profession, a little like going on work experience although it is often for a longer time frame and you have a little more responsibility. I didn’t end up making tea/coffee or just filing paperwork. I was involved in several meetings and given the opportunity to put forward my own ideas for projects.

2. What is it like and what do you do?

The answer I gave

I loved my internship, I got the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and at the beginning my line manager discussed what skills I’d like to develop and ways I could build on my experience. My internship was for a social media role so I got to learn more about the way that Macmillan uses social media to provide support, information and the planning involved in different projects.

Additional thoughts
Working for Macmillan is an experience in itself, with so many people passionate about their work it is hard not to get caught up and end up staying extra hours. I have had the pleasure of meeting people from many different departments and offices, in person, via email and even spoken to them on the phone. The office itself is very bubbly and the ever-changing posters bring a smile to my face. I work on social media, I wrote posts, responded to comments and found answers for those that needed them, I also got to learn about our regional pages and accounts as well meet some of the fundraising team up in Shipley. I had the opportunity to experience the ups and downs of working life as a member of the Social Media team.

3. What is the meaning of life?

The answer given
42

Additional thoughts

It depends which book you read.

4. More details please? Full Time? Part Time? All areas of support or focused area?

The answer given
My role was 4 days a week, mainly working on social media but I did have the opportunity to learn about all the various ways Macmillan provides support (here is the blog I wrote about it http://community.macmillan.org.uk/blogs/b/community_news/archive/2013/02/20/how-macmillan-supports-online-and-offline.aspx ).
Internships are fairly flexible, I work from the London office but there are internships available around the UK. Macmillan asks that you do a minimum 3 days a week and will ask what hours you are available to work.

Additional Thoughts
Social media has been integrated across all levels at Macmillan, so I found myself often asking other departments for information or how I could help out. I learnt a lot from the cancer information team and throughly enjoyed working on the recipe Pinterest board as well as trialing the recipes. So even though I only worked in the office for 4 days a week, I often caught myself thinking of new ideas and wondering how everything was going on even on my days off!

5. What qualifications do you need to apply?

The answer given
Internships are available to everyone, you are chosen on your experience and what you could bring to the role. So if you are interested get applying

Additional thoughts

Internships are open to everyone, that is one of the best parts of applying for one. No pressure on your qualifications just the knowledge of the role you are applying for. If I decided to intern for the fundraising department I would just need to evaluate the skills I have opposed to trying to work on another qualification. This part of internships amazes me.

6. I take that this is voluntary work?

The answer given
Yes an internship is a voluntary role, I was given a nice pin badge to say that I’m a volunteer which I wear proudly.

Additional thoughts

I volunteered my time and effort to gain experience so I could be a part of the work that Macmillan Cancer Support does. I also got a snazzy folder and badge. I was pretty chuffed with my starter kit.

7. Did you work in a PR capacity? If so, what’s the best way to get an internship?

The answer given
My role was focused more on social media, which meant we did work closely with the PR team for some projects. Keep an eye out for any opportunity to gain experience, previously I did some work writing for a local magazine which got me used to press releases and other things

Additional thoughts

Grab any opportunity you can to gain experience, I loved writing for the Ark Magazine but I also enjoyed the photography I did for the students union. There were lots of opportunities to get involved whilst I was at university and it gives you a chance to learn more about how different people work. It also gives you chance to see the way you work when placed in different teams/departments/companies.

8. What part of your internship have you enjoyed the most whilst at Macmillan?

The answer given
I’ve loved working on a variety of projects, seeing a project go from planning stages to launch has been fantastic! Learning about new ideas and working with some lovely people has certainly made the 3 months fly by.

Additional thoughts
There have been days where I wondered how people managed to stay so positive about their cancer experience, then there were moments of pure joy when I heard about how thankful someone was for the support they had and wanted to know how they could give back. The projects were great to work on and they did make time fly, though I do have to say some of the messages I saw re-affirmed why I want to work for a charity and how I can help others.

9. What campaign have you enjoyed working on the most? HINT #CharityShakeOff

The answer given
There have been a few projects like #AgeOldExcuse, #charityshakeoff and #notalone. I’m currently working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ so I’ll have to announce my favourite later on this year.

Additional thoughts

The shake off was pretty cool, seeing three charities work to raise awareness and have a bit of fun was certainly different. Video is a great way to portray messages without lengthy explanations, although simplicity is key. #Notalone & #AgeOldExcuse have very powerful messages that have left a lasting impression on those who have seen them. My current project ‘A Really Good Night In‘ is my first fundraising project and it has been hard work getting the planning and content together but I am thoroughly enjoying seeing everything develop.

10. Are there internships in the north-east of England? Is there an age limit on being an intern?

The answer given
There are internships available all across the UK so keep an eye out for them via http://volunteering.macmillan.org.uk/Search/AdvancedSearch . You have to be over 18 to be able to apply but other than that no age limit. Great that you’ve chosen to learn new skills, wishing you the best for the future

Additional thoughts

It is experience that matters not age, I was very surprised by this question purely as I believe you can change career or learn new skills at any age. I have always wondered if I have been rejected from jobs because of my age, I never considered that people may believe they’ve been rejected due to being too old for an internship. We all have to start somewhere.

14. What is the internship about ? What do you do? And what do you gain?

The answer given
There are a wide variety of internships across Macmillan. My internship was for Social Media, so I focused on the Macmillan Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+) working on different elements of planning and content. I have gained experience of working within a charity and the chance to work on some amazing campaigns.

Additional thoughts

I’ve recently been trying to explain to friends and family what I actually did during my internship, the simplest way to explain is that I work on a selection of social media platforms. Generally this gets me a bit of a blank look and “so you just sit on Facebook all day?”. I wish it was that simple, drafting up content for statuses and picking photos to upload is a lot more difficult, trying to be interesting and relevant all the time. I love it but trying to explain it can sometimes be tougher than if I was able to show them exactly what I do in an average day. I have gained a lot of knowledge not only about social media but also about cancer, medical support and financial support available.

15. What are your managers like?

Additional thoughts

I didn’t reply to this on the main thread as it was asked after the Q&A had finished. My managers have given me the chance to shine, with their feedback and knowledge I am not the same person that I was when I started my internship (in a positive way). With their help and encouragement I have spoken at events such as #barcampnfp and actively taken part in discussions both internally and externally about how social media should be incorporated. I have been very lucky to have been offered the opportunity working on ‘A Really Good Night In’ and look forward to evaluating what I have learnt after it has been completed. So I would like to say Thank You, to my Managers and the Online Community team for making my internship a fantastic experience. I hope the next intern brings you even more snacks.
Amy

Time to say Thanks

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There is a story I remember from my childhood, about a little girl who needed to learn some manners. Every time she forgot to say Please or Thank you her mother pinned a letter to her dress, a letter P for Please and a letter Q for Thank you. After a while she was covered in letters, the only way she could get the letters removed was to say please and thank you. Eventually she remembers and ends up without any letters pined to her dress.

My first memory of receiving thanks for a donation was when my primary school set up to sponsor a child, we managed to raise enough money to donate from a school event to give to the charity. I remember a 20 minute phone call explaining what a difference it had made and to expect a letter to say how it had helped. I felt so proud about the donation we had made. Another memory I have of donating was sending off shoe boxes as part of a Christmas appeal, I always felt so sad at the fact that the shoe box I was packing might be the only gift that someone would receive that Christmas. I never remember if we heard back about how they liked their gifts, I expect we did have a response but it hasn’t stuck in my memory as much as that phone call.

As I write this you may have already figured out what I’m going to say next :

For every PLEASE there needs to be a THANK YOU

I was brought up to write thank you notes for birthday, Christmas and Easter presents. I was never very good at getting them done promptly. I always thought that people would feel or know that I loved the gift they had given me. Otherwise why would they have got it? There are times where I ponder if charities feel the same way , their supporters know that their donation makes a difference. The reality is that if you don’t tell them, how will anyone really know what impact it has made?

Being able to show where the money has gone towards gives a boost to what you can say, photos of the roof on the scout hut being re-made or seeing a well/pump being built gives satisfaction towards knowing how the money has helped. Something I’d love to do is to follow my donation through its journey. If my donation of £5 becomes ten books I’d like a photo of those ten books. A way to capture the moment with the words “You did that”. Letting donors know their value could be the difference between a one-off donation and a monthly direct debit.

That is all for now
Amy

P.S I am aware that many donations do receive a thank you, this is in response to many people asking ‘Where does my money go’ which got me thinking and blogging about the concept.

The Recovery – How #Barcampnfp fried my mind

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4 days ago I got home and could barely process my thoughts, I’d spent the day at Barcamp NFP and loved every second. Yet I was struggling to fully process everything I’d learnt. The morning after I started chatting to a colleague and still struggled to fully summarise some of the key points I’d heard and spoken about. Now 4 days later I am able to form sentences and structure my ideas, this Barcamp NFP certainly gave me a LOT to think about.

Many people have attended a Barcamp, a movement that is the ultimate un-conference. You quite simply arrive on the day with your idea, submit it and see when you’ll present it. The rest of the time you can watch other talks and absorb the atmosphere. I did not know what to expect from this barcamp, the last one I attended in blackpool was buzzing with technology & information. This one was in the Mozilla HQ and was buzzing with conversation opposed to the whirr of 3D printers.

After a quick introduction, I (after much deliberation) wrote my post it note and stuck it on the wall. I have not presented by myself since the Preston Social lightening talks in September, which although nerve-wracking was a short 5 minutes in front of a crowd I knew (fairly well). The Barcamp session run between 30 mins to 45 mins in length and are created to nurture discussion. Luckily Myself and Holly had picked similar topics to talk about (Providing support through social media and social media & the vulnerable) so we were able to double up to present in the main room. We were presenting in the last slot of the day so plenty of time to absorb the other discussions.

I had opportunity to learn about protecting your brand, open sourcing software, agile management, a Failure swapshop, RESPECT – Youth engagement as well as a very active debate titled Dinosaurs vs Astronauts. What I found was that even though the main topic title was set, the discussions often took a path of their own. I wish I’d taken more notes as when I try think through the many points discussed I have been getting lost in my own responses and ideas.

That something I found out from many of the attendees at Barcamp NFP, its not about the coffee or the time out of the office. It is all about the ideas, hearing others opinions and challenging what you know to be able to answer to others.

I believe if you attend with open eyes, you can learn much more than reading the write ups, which is why I will eagerly pounce on the next Barcamp NFP as I will be better prepared with one of these babies so I don’t miss a single word

Until next time

Amy

It’s beginning to look a lot like december

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I’ve eaten 2 days out of my advent calendar and I am becoming increasingly aware that the year is drawing to a close. I have had an eventful year and look forward to the roller-coaster that will be next year.

The past week I have been settling into my new home, planning my commute on the underground and learning some of the baby steps of my internship. Including all the desk health and safety! Needless to say I am learning still about what social media can be used for. My most recent tutorial being on the online community. I’ve been a member of a few forums, generally for hobbies or about games. Never really a community that deals with more important issues, so this was an entirely new world. I’m intrigued to learn more about how this area operates independently to what is seen on more open networks.

I’ve already discovered that a lot of care and attention goes into multiple elements of social media on a larger scale. Previously I have worked on and created documentation on how you should conduct yourself on company accounts, even this part of my skill set has been developed in one week of being part of a larger team.

I am always looking a few steps ahead though, so I am back to looking through case studies to keep up to date with latest research and findings. Kicking this blog up a gear and staying focused. Keep an eye out as I update new sections.

That is all for now

Amy

Supporting Local Causes

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It is easy to forget about the causes that need supporting in the local area when the first names that come to mind tend to be national or even international.

Last December we adopted Dexter from RSPCA Preston

A bundle of fun, at times he can be challenging but we know that we have taken a dog out of the centre and brought him into a loving home. There will always be a debate between adopting a new puppy from a litter or bringing home a dog without a home from the rescue centres. On my search across the web for other dogs needing homes I found a local rescue that also has dogs needing homes. Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary is the site I found. I never knew it existed.

I’m learning how researching into local can pay off, it isn’t just about supporting local business. It is about supporting everything that is local to you

That is all for now
Amy

#PrestonSocial 26th 2012 with guest speaker @3hundredand65

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A brief explanation of what the #prestonsocial is about. The #prestonsocial is an event held monthly at the New Continental in Preston, it is a place for anyone who has an interest in Preston/technology/politics/culture and so much more.

This months #prestonsocial featured guest speaker David Kirkwood who illustrates each tweet that is part of 3 hundred and 65. A graphic novel created on/through twitter. Listening to David talk about how everything started, how it will continue on and what the future holds. It was a little bit difficult to imagine how much of a difference a tweet can make.

The start of the event is always good to figure out first impressions. Dave was honest about how the project started, why it started (someone close to him was diagnosed) and how he has used a skill to help.

With each element of the 3hundredand65 story came the truth that cancer is growing among the population, it doesn’t pick people because of who they are. Which is why the work that the Teenage Cancer Trust does is so good, helping those who need it most at the time when they are (sometimes) at their weakest. As with any project a lot of time has gone into it and continues to. The recruitment of tweets, dave says, took up most of his time in the first few months, then as the story developed a true community emerged and a kind of following for each character and plot line. For me it was great to see how the story gained momentum without the big celebrity names. Then to hear about how celebrities had taken time to join the project makes it even bigger, without loosing integrity.

A popular speaker and a lot of questions afterwards, ranging from curiosity about the plot and where the completed book will be on sale/when it will be on sale.

The answer was : No. A firm answer from Dave which he explained that the project would be over once the year has been completed. I also added whether An idea involving 6 tweets to write a twitter story had been considered, to create a novel opposed to a graphic novel. For me the possibilities are endless, as a way to create content for a cause. This to me is one of the best ones yet. Sofie summarises it well….

I intended this to be my 10,00th tweet as a blog dedicated to how content and community helps charity. Please check out 3Hundredand65 and volunteer to tweet and contribute.

That’s All For Now

Amy

My first #NFPTweetup

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May I firstly say thank you to all those who were at the #NFPTweetup, it has been an experience that wouldn’t of been the same without the attendees/hosts.

Secondly I ought to explain to those who weren’t there what the #NFPTweetup is about. The Not for Profit tweetup is a gathering/conference of individuals who are interested in discussing what is currently going on in the not for profit sector.

Their website describes the event as “a community of people who work at or with, charities and non-profit organisations who are interested in harnessing the power of digital and social media, and other new technologies, to achieve their strategic objectives.”

This tweetup was focused on content, with 2 guest speakers talking about their charity and events.

First up was the ladies from Women for Women UK @imsarahhaynes, @Lucy_Jade & @ilonqua. A brilliant presentation explaining about Ning and how user-created content brought their bridge campaign to new heights globally. Their approach to using a new social network to help maintain control and increase awareness of the work they do. Thousands of people across the globe stood on bridges, styles, in ditches, holding banners and even playing bridge. To show support for Women all over the world. The impact being able to show images of this support must have enormous effect on the supporters and those being supported by Women for Women UK.

Next up was Lucy from @Childsi who explained about the origin of Child’s I Foundation. How they use content to help save lives and find homes for children in Uganda. The work Child’s I is not as simple as just sending aid workers to look after these children it is connecting people together to find families for them. The slogan “We make families not orphans” is clear and concise. To emphasise the importance of how being online and accessible can and does help to save lives is viewable through Joey.

After the discussion groups had reformed back into the hall, it was time to see the examples of current work that is being done. 5 presentations that picked a different element of charity to be enthusiastic about. These 5 examples included Gamification, RNLI, KnowHowNonProfit, Charity Water and Blue Cross. Blue Cross for its focus on the pets and dogs, RNLI for the @outonashout which demonstrates how automated tweets can work. KnowHowNonProfit for its content that has been pulled from those people who know (not forcefully like a tooth being pulled) rather than a pushing information on people. Then Gamification the way that checking into a venue has been made “fun” by foursquare Living Streets helps each individual to work towards improving their street. Charity Water is a charity that focuses on bringing clean safe water to a variety of communities around the globe, you can see here. One of the main points about Charity water that was presented on the stage (other than the hansomeness of the founder) was the way Charity water thanked their donors and mantained contact with videos explaining what a difference your donation made.

The tweetup itself is an experience, I never could have imagined having the opportunity to meet so many people who are passionate about their job. It isn’t the kind of sector where work is work and play is play, work can be like play if you believe in what you are doing enough.

After the main event, the next place to chat is the pub. Extra time to just chat about anything you would like to the people you may not have spoken to during the event.

I have certainly met people who, I am not afraid to admit, I admire and aspire to be as skilled as when I am in a career within the charity sector. I was starstruck and lost the ability to answers questions several times!

That’s all for now

Amy

P.S Thanks to @CharityChap @Rach3w & @skipinder for letting me yammer

A Fresh Start for Cinderella

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Morning!

The clocks have sprung forward and the sun is out to explain why. For some reason this time change I always react better too. Maybe its the fact that as the sunrise get earlier and brighter I get to wake up more naturally opposed to the horrid high-pitched beep of the alarm.

After yesterdays fun of clearing out and cleaning up a couple of rooms, my attention now moves to updating the books and creating notes for tomorrows presentation.

But why cinderella for the title?

For me Cinderella is not purely about how the pretty sister will get the prince she wants but also the fresh start she gets gives after the fairy godmother allows her to experience a life she wouldn’t normally get chance to due to her evil stepmother. So once the clock strikes midnight and everything goes back to how it was. Instead of being disheartened, Cinderella still has the memory of how joyful the night was and it gives her a new spring in her step.

The clock change is nowhere near as Disney, but every year as it gets warmer. I feel more positive about my choices. This year the summer means graduation and the end of 3 years of studying as well as the excitement of finding a job.

Last summer I had the opportunity to work for a charity called SEED/Breathe in Preston. Working full-time was much more enjoyable than lectures full-time, a chance to interact with others who have the same positive ideas for what the charity can achieve and how many people it could help.

This academic year I have been focused more on my job hunt and getting the best result possible for my degree. So I am hoping my Cinderella moment will happen sometime around 18th May when all is said and done.

Wish me luck and Hope that my prince charming of a job will find me soon

That’s All For Now

Amy

#RedRoses at CIM Pitch Final

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On 8th March 2012, Myself, Emma and Stacey started preparing for our pitch presentation for the CIM Final. The presentation itself had been sent on 24th February, so at this point we were trying our best to time our notes and ensure that all the information was clear.

We had woken up in Glasgow, after a few hours we were ready to head to the SECC full of nerves and excitement. With our props being very delicately held, astate does not enjoy being printed on, no matter how much hairspray is used. So smudge free we headed round the centre to find out where to sign in. After a few minutes we bumped into the Huddersfield Team (Who came first in the Northern CIM Pitch Heat) and not long after we signed in did we meet the other 2 teams who had made it to the final these teams were Brighton and Leeds .

It was great to have the support of so many, as a team we worked very hard to make sure that we had a presentation of the highest standard. We have been using #redroses since november the responses through twitter were very positive.

Whilst we were presenting having pictures sent out showing our “fabulous” dresses as well as showing how nervous we were (or at least how nervous I was!). After each presentation the microphone was offered up to the audience for full participation. We were very lucky to be asked 2 questions, which were answered in full to the best of our knowledge.

Unfortunately #RedRoses did not win this years CIM Pitch 2012, Team Envision from Huddersfield took the award which was well deserved with their clear idea for raising awareness with posters in specific areas. The experience was worth every second of research and wanting to just throw the laptop across the room! Developing presentation skills further in a more competitive environment outside of a University campus or classroom is of the highest value as graduation gets closer and the job applications increase. Being different from the student next to you can get quite cut throat with jobs being so scarce. Being a Member of a Team that got to the national final out of 45 teams that entered in total is something that went straight onto the cv and linkedin profile.

Below is our final presentation minus notes

CIM Pitch 2012 – #RedRoses University of Central Lancashire Team

View more PowerPoint from MissAJBurton
For me the opportunity to present at Diabetes UK Conference at the SECC was not only great for the cv but a chance to understand more about diabetes. My younger sister is a Type 1 Diabetic, as I am in Preston most of the year I get very little opportunity to find out about glucose monitors and technology to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Although my medical knowledge is limited and I am not a diabetic myself so it’s mainly a case of what I have seen is what I know.
Opposite the arena where the Pitch presentation was held was the Nipro Europe stand which was promoting the True Result Twist monitor, one of the staff explained the monitor in full and helped me to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the monitor. It’s size was the first thing that caught my eye, closely followed by the colour. Having a demonstration of it with test liquid was enough for me to try find out the cost, to which I was told I could take one home with me for a trial. It’s rare I take advantage of a freebie, more often than not it leads to TONS of paperwork and a weekly email reminder to review the product. As with many of the stands, most people took time to explain what the product was, how it worked and what their stand was about. It was incredible to see so many people in once place who are working to help those with diabetes any way they can.
I would recommend any Marketing or Business student to enter CIM Pitch competition, the experience you gain and the people you meet is worth the time you put into it. I would also love to go to the Diabetes UK Conference again, the information provided is excellent and everyone there was so friendly even when they did find out that #RedRoses were not medical students or diabetics.
I look forward to more events and opportunities like this once I am working within Marketing.
That’s All For Now
Amy