Growth & Organisation Consultant With a Proven Track Record of Delivery
Growth &
Organisation
Consultant With a Proven Track Record of Delivery
Janet Down MBE has a track record of developing projects and making them grow
I started work in the voluntary sector in the 80’s where I helped a charity develop a management conferencing arm alongside their established church conferencing facility. I moved on into Birmingham where I worked for a few years with a charity supporting vulnerable people and helped develop their Head Office. During a break from paid work, and concentrating on the very important role of raising children, I experienced the other side of the voluntary sector in various roles; Chair of Governors at a school, Fundraising for a crafting charity, running holiday clubs for children and running parenting groups. After a short break, I was naturally drawn back to paid work in the third sector and spent 8 years working with a National Charity as a Regional Manager supporting people with a learning disability.
Testimonials
“I will always remember you as the go getting, business minded glamorous woman who changes lives and charities way of thinking”
Sarah Gill – CEO Gro-Organic
“I know that you have built your organisation from a very small base to an essential part of the overall service for people with learning difficulties. What is sure is that with the strong foundation it will continue to thrive and
grow.”
Peter Davidson – Director of Social Services (retired)
“I can readily see from the impact you have had on the Borough you are clearly held in very high regard. I am sure you will be missed but I hope that your next chapter is fulfilling and enriching for you and those that you will be working with.”
James Voller – CEO Solihull Advocacy into Action
Supporting emerging organisations
Experience & Achievements
Supporting emerging organisations
Result > Funding programme Established
A community group were challenging the local authority as they wished to ensure that a local youth provision was continued. They were met with initial hostility but gained a lot of local community support which meant that the council (reluctantly) had to consider their request to take over the management. They had a huge amount of enthusiasm and passion with expertise in their specific line of youth work but lacked the experience of working with council officers.
The council were so impressed with the progress that they became partners in the future work. We were able to bring in a significant funding programme which assured the future of the work for a further three years and the programme has gone from strength to strength.
Using networks and influence
RESULT > Established a successful business
A new entrepreneur was setting up a counselling business. The person had previously faced bankruptcy and also had a history of substance abuse but was in recovery. The person had tried, without success, to get a bank account set up for the new business and could not get past the first security filters. Without a bank account, the business was going to fail.
The person was given a second chance and established a counselling business that was successful. I would like to think, also, that the bank personnel involved re-looked at their systems to ensure that others weren’t also disadvantaged.
Systems review
Result > A 5* food hygiene accreditation
A local church working with homeless people and also the community needed to ensure that they passed a local authority food hygiene inspection. They needed a system that worked with the various groups that worked within their set up. The previous way of working had been misguided and, subsequently, proved too ‘commercial’ with systems that were not understood by the volunteers. The end result was that the essential basic checks and balances were not in place.
All kitchen users trained and competent to provide a safe service to the more vulnerable clients. A working policy that was then adopted by other churches in the area. A 5* food hygiene result from the Local Authority Inspector.
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RECENT ARTICLEs
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What a strange two years we have been through. As we enter 2022, and I have started back to concentrating on my business, I have been thinking about how I keep myself motivated as a self employed person, back into my day job. This has got me reflecting on the past two years and what kept me motivated during it. At the beginning of this difficult period, for almost a year, whilst I was unable to do my ‘day job’ I did gardening for vulnerable people. It was hard work but being outside was safe, provided me with a moderate income and got me through some quite dark days. I learnt at lot!