One of the things I love about working as a consultant in reward is the times when I feel I have done something very rewarding (pun intended), and when I feel a little jaded or weary, I think back on those moments, find my mojo and get back to it.

I’ve just been away for a few days with a special group of friends. We have a variety of different things in common, and one of them is our love of charity shops. We’ve just been near Welshpool in Wales for a week, and charity shopping was on the to do list. I was proud to think as I wandered from shop to shop, down a street in the town, that I’d - worked with them, am currently working with them, have a quote in with them, and am looking forward to hopefully adding more charities to the list. It’s a great feeling when you go in the shop to know that you are helping them in a different way. 

Of course, when choosing to work with a charity, I have to be very aware that how their funding is spent is crucially important to them, and of the impact of our recommendations on their hard-won cash. It’s a difficult balance to make at a time when market rates for jobs such as fundraisers, shop managers and other retail staff are through the roof. To say nothing of the impact of a lack of candidates for many roles. Who would have thought that would be an outcome from Covid when a year ago we were all happily predicting there would be a glut of people needing jobs?

Anyway, as I was saying, charity work is important to me. I also do the occasional pro bono work with ad hoc projects through Cranfield Trust. Luke from Menzies Law introduced me to them and I have found it a worthwhile experience. Charities apply to them for support with their goals and Cranfield Trust matches them with volunteer consultants with the skills they need, such as business planning, financial forecasting, or help with charity governance. The projects I have worked on have been interesting, and the people I have worked with have been so committed and engaged in their services.

To anyone who thinks about working with the charity sector – my advice is, do it! They may not reward you with £m projects, but then who will? It is just so worthwhile to get engaged with them and learn about the important stuff they do.

What do you do, for the feel-good factor? Do you engage with the charity and not-for-profit sector?