Phoenix
Charity Consultancy
Supporting small charities to achieve their full potential
About Me
Lisa Lewis - Consultant
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Lisa has had extensive experience of the voluntary sector, including ten years as the Chief Executive of a multi award winning charity.
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During those years she transformed the organisation from a small project to a well respected independent charity with a team of 6 staff, 6 trustees, and 50 volunteers. See the Doorway case story for more information.
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Lisa is currently appointed as a Trustee at Wiltshire Community Foundation, serving on the Programme Delivery Committee.
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Lisa has a passion for enabling charities and community groups to reach their full potential. She understands that organisations can often find it challenging to concentrate on issues such as strategic planning and governance when faced with limited financial and people resources.
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She is approachable, honest, knowledgeable, supportive, empathetic, and well used to thinking outside the box...
Skills and Experience
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Team leadership
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Finance and budgeting
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Community engagement
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Charity governance
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Strategic planning and development
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Staff / volunteer / trustee recruitment, mentoring and development
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Policies and procedures
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Risk assessments - both organisational and premises
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Fundraising and bid writing
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Staff and volunteer training
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Outcome monitoring and reporting
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Networking and partnership building
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Report and analytical information
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PR and marketing including social media
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Mediation and advocacy
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Public speaking
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Setting up and registering a charity
"Never ask a volunteer to do something that you wouldn't do yourself"
TESTIMONIALS
"Lisa has provided me with excellent advice and mentoring over the last six months.
As a former Chief Executive of a multi-award winning organisation, Lisa has pretty much seen it all and understands the challenges small charities face.
Through her peer to peer support, Lisa provides positive, innovative thinking to help tackle challenges and seize opportunities. Her optimism and sense of humour have always made our mentoring sessions great fun and highly productive.
I know that I am a stronger leader because of Lisa’s support and guidance."
Fiona Oliver, Interim Joint Chief Executive, Wiltshire Community Foundation
It's quite apt that Lisa Lewis is a bit of a car fanatic because in the more than 15 yrs I have known her, I have never seen her in anything less than sixth gear. She has boundless drive and enthusiasm for the projects she embraces but the crucial thing is that all of that passion is underpinned by compassion. She never forgets the people at the heart of the causes she champions and every ounce of her energy is expended in helping and advocating for them.
After so much time in the sector she has huge respect not just from those who worked alongside her, but also her peers in other organisations who have often sought her out for advice and guidance.
I had the privilege of her insight and vision when she wrote an extremely readable and challenging regular column for my newspaper. It demonstrated her expertise and understanding of the voluntary sector but also capture her commitment and humility.
I can highly recommend Lisa to anyone who wants to add a healthy dose of dynamism and perceptive thinking to their team.
She would hate it if I said she is a gem because she is always keen to deflect praise on to others, but she is a gem. There, I've said it.
Gary Lawrence, Director, Meadow Communications
Establishing a new charity from scratch is a major challenge for well-meaning organisations. The learning curve is steep and fraught with unknown obstacles.
Lisa Lewis has spent over a decade successfully establishing a charity. From the technical aspects of governance, policies and procedures, through to lobbying, influencing and financing she has significant knowledge of the challenges that will need to be overcome.
She is able to combine an assertive, confident, professional approach with an empathetic understanding of people needs and an ability to get things done.
Ultimately management of people - whether they be members of staff , stakeholders, politicians, and clients is a key skill and Lisa brings an approach that has proven to be effective and successful.
Mark Barnett, Trustee at Doorway Wiltshire Ltd
