Chief Executive
Bromsgrove and Redditch Network (BARN) May 2015 – present
Leading BARN, a network supporting voluntary and community organisations across Bromsgrove and Redditch. BARN supports local communities and helps with networking, information, funding and volunteering. It is also an accredited Volunteer Centre.
Work has included developing a range of successful projects focusing around volunteer engagement and community development such as community transport and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), providing a voluntary sector perspective at a strategic level, and supporting and strengthening the sector. It also required putting the charity on a more sustainable financial footing, raising the profile of the organisation (such as re-branding, and the creation of promotional materials), and restructuring.
Strategic:
– Developed the charity’s vision and purpose, with new projects and partnerships created
– Developed good relationships with strategic partners, funders and other stakeholders
– Represented the VCS on local strategic partnerships, regional forums and to statutory sector partners
– Supported initiatives to strengthen the Third Sector and promote partnership working
– Oversaw the Volunteer Centre’s re-accreditation
Project development and fundraising:
– Developed community action projects including ABCD Community Builders and community transport
– Worked closely with senior staff & trustees to refocus and diversify BARN’s funding priorities and projects
– Turned year-on-year deficits into a trading surplus with operational reserves
– Responsible for developing business plan, preparing significant bids
– Diversified income with a range of multi-year grant funding and delivery contracts
Operational:
– Increased BARN’s engagement through rebranding, increased marketing, online activity, social media and greater community outreach.
– Oversaw management of new initiatives such as community transport, grant management and coordinating the VCS response during the pandemic
– Responsible for overseeing charity operations such as health and safety, finance, marketing & membership
Find out more at www.barn.org.uk.
Chief Executive (also Company Secretary)
The Play House April 2006 – April 2012
Leading The Play House, a Birmingham based educational theatre company & charity producing theatre-in-education and a variety of other educational & participatory drama projects for children, young people and their families.
Strategic
– Led the company and answered directly to the board of the charity
– Developed relationships with strategic partners, funders and other stakeholders.
– The company remained an Investor in People and also attained the Social Enterprise Mark, the first theatre company outside of the capital and only the third in the country to do this.
– Graduate of the Common Purpose Meridian leadership course
Financial and fundraising:
– Ran a company budget with £0.3 million annual turnover
– Significantly refocused the funding of The Play House in order to cope with shrinking funding and greater market opportunities, from over 67% of the company’s income being derived from grants to 71% of the charity’s income being derived from sales and commissions.
– Authored or co-authored successful grant or funding applications of around £0.75 million during tenure.
– Responsible for management of administrative and financial operations at The Play House. Duties include overseeing all facets of the organisations financial, legal and administrative responsibilities, including responsibility for fundraising, quotations, and client liaison
Project and programming:
– Oversaw the production of typically 3 new tours, 7 retours and numerous projects reaching around 25,000 participants a year, including curriculum-based, social, community and heritage projects (See examples of heritage projects)
– Created a programme with a variety of partners, collaborators, stakeholders and participants, addressing a wide range of gaps in artistic and educational provision with a range of communities and client groups
– Significantly developed the company’s IT infrastructure and online presence. Radically overhauled the company’s project support into a comprehensive and interactive online learning resource.
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Gary Roskell 