Blog: My Time 2 Shine Year
In January last year, I joined Shaper/Caper full-time as a Trainee Fundraiser through the Rank Foundation’s Time 2 Shine Leadership programme. At the end of this month, my T2S year will come to an end. I don’t think anyone could have predicted anything close to what 2020 would end up being, but through it, I’ve met so many amazing people and I’ve learned so much. Particularly given the circumstances, I have learned that community and relationships are a much bigger part of leadership than I previously thought.
My journey started with a trip down to Morecambe for the launch event, where in addition to getting to know the rest of my group we had a variety of talks and workshops over the 2.5-day event. The first introduced to me the Rank LEADERS framework, which we would use to assess our development as Leaders throughout the year and then we had a Growth Mindset workshop. These sessions were extremely influential in preparing me for the year to come by giving me a set of qualities to refer back to anytime I felt stuck, and the tools to reframe problems and challenges as opportunities to grow. As I was sat on the train home reflecting on the last few days I was already looking forward to the next few events; one in Summer at Lake Windemere and the final Showcase event. If only I knew what was to come!
As I came into this role from a dance background I had a lot to learn. In the beginning, I spent time shadowing Yolanda, our executive director, learning how to write funding applications by assisting with sections or redrafting older applications for new funding bids. This was particularly helpful because it allowed me to see what the final products SHOULD look like. Over time, I began writing applications with more autonomy and learned about the other aspects of an application like budgeting and risk assessments. One of the biggest lessons I learned was how relationship building played a massive role in fundraising, and how small conversations can lead to big partnerships, big projects and even bigger benefits for the participants.
And then Covid happened…
It seems like overnight the entire country had been flipped on its head. The transition to working from home wasn’t too bad, but suddenly our fundraising efforts were of the utmost importance. The whole team here at Shaper/Caper worked extraordinarily hard over the summer, adapting projects to be delivered digitally and filming episodes of Children’s Capers daily to keep the countries children active and inspired. For myself and Yolanda, we were fundraising to keep our services available for all the participants who needed them, as well as to keep the company going - no pressure!
However, this is where I realised how invaluable being part of the T2S programme is. In addition to the growth mindset workshop and LEADERS framework that helped to keep a positive mindset, I also had regular Action Learning Sets and a Mentor throughout the year. The (now digital) Action Learning Sets were a space to bring problems or questions to the group and explore constructive solutions together. I found that everyone’s different experiences and expertise allowed us to become a strong support network offering thoughtful and actionable steps to whoever presented their conundrum. What struck me is how often there was a seemingly ‘obvious’ or ‘common sense’ solution that was uncovered through the group discussions - sometimes you think so much about something you don’t see what’s right in front of you!
Another key person in my support network this year was my Mentor. Funnily enough, she was on the panel that interviewed us. I remember being inspired by what a confident and switched-on person she is and hoping that, if successful, I’d have just as good a year as she seemed to! Throughout the year we’d have monthly or bi-monthly phonecalls which often reminded me to keep an eye on the bigger picture/year as a whole and how to get the most out of the T2S year. Her positivity and ability to see challenges as an opportunity to grow and/or affect positive change is something that I have been trying to develop further within myself and incorporate into my working practice.
Towards the end of the year, I volunteered to assist with interviews for the next T2S cohort, sitting on the panel for various interviews. It was a great learning experience that gave me insight into what makes a good interview, as well as experience interviewing others. It was apparent how committed the Rank Foundation are to offering this programme to the talented individuals that were interviewed, and how seriously they take the supporting of the T2S leader through their year from the organisation they work at.
My T2S and Action Learning Set groups and mentor, as well as team Shaper/Caper and The Rank Foundation team, supported me as I navigated such a new role in the midst of a global pandemic and I am grateful for them all. Through the challenges and the successes I’ve grown as a leader, and as a person and I’m excited to move on to the next step of my journey as a young professional working in the third sector.
by Dylan Boswell
