# How apprentices are helping Childreach International support its fundraisers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/24/how_apprentices_helping_childreach_international_support_fundraisers/
- Published: 2017-08-24T08:30:01+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Childreach International has announced that it is about to take on an apprentice
for the fourth year running.**

The London-based international children’s rights and protection charity took on 
its last apprentice in September 2016 through [Step Forward](http://stepforward.uk.com/).
This was the second year [Childreach International](https://www.childreach.org.uk/)
had taken on an apprentice in the role of Fundraising Assistant with the aim of 
improving support for its fundraisers, while also providing the apprentice with 
valuable work experience.

Step Forward is one-year programme for young people in London aged 17-20, and is
run by [The Challenge Network](http://the-challenge.org/). It currently has apprentices
at around 100 organisations in London, and in 2017 will provide 260 apprentices 
across seven courses, which each cover such specific skills areas as accountancy,
programming, website development, digital marketing and business administration.
Apprentices receive training and experience, including a job with an employer for
12 months and a £9,000 salary along with regular professional development training,
and support from a fully trained personal mentor.

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The role at [Childreach International](https://www.childreach.org.uk/) involves 
many elements, including:

 * The first point of contact for fundraisers, most of which are students, and providing
   them with prompt phone and email support
 * Managing the online resources for fundraisers (and uploading images of successful
   events)
 * Applying for permission for public collections and getting fundraisers involved;
   Helping with organising internal events
 * Generally providing logistical and administrative support to the fundraising 
   team members including posting and emailing information packs and other details
   to fundraisers.

Last year, apprentice Liban Dahir joined Childreach International as the Fundraising
Assistant in September 2016 through a one-year Business Administration apprenticeship.
Liban passed his A-Levels at school and will be going to read Geography at Manchester
University this September, using the apprenticeship to gain valuable workplace skills
and experience to inform his future career.

[⌊childreach international Liban⌉⌊childreach international Liban⌉[

Apprentice Liban Dahir

Edward Sainsbury is Head of Events at the charity, where he oversees a team of five
people responsible for 800 volunteer fundraisers at universities across the country.
They raise over £1.5 million each year and are one of the charity’s main sources
of income, making up over 80% of the charity’s fundraising income.

He said:

> “This is the third year running that we have had an apprentice, and the second
> year running they have taken on the Fundraising Assistant role. The creation of
> this role has been very beneficial for the quality of support being provided to
> our fundraisers, particularly as the rest of the team spend a lot of time on the
> road so it is really useful to have someone based in the office as a constant 
> point of contact. Also, most of our fundraisers are university students and it
> is really beneficial to have someone of a similar age they can deal with.”

He added:

> “We’ve seen a big increase in the quality of fundraising support offered by my
> team to our volunteer fundraisers from the creation of this apprentice post. I’ve
> been very impressed with how he has taken everything in his stride and got really
> stuck in.
> “My advice for employers considering an apprentice is to make the role quite dynamic
> and have plenty of things for the apprentice to get involved with. You have to
> remember they are new to the workplace, so the apprentice needs to be well managed
> with a very structured approach: it is very different to having a graduate.”

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