Thank you for you applications. We were delighted with the response we received!
needed support in Merton. We do this through rehabilitation, mobility training and inclusive social activities. We help more than 400 vision impaired people with varying degrees of sight loss every year.
We offer you:
❖ a competitive salary c£17,500 for 14 hour week
❖ flexible working
❖ great variety
❖ a friendly inclusive work environment in pleasant surroundings close to local amenities
❖ the ability to add real value while making a true impact on our charity
This is a far ranging new role which you can make your own. Our successful candidate will shape how the charity works with different fundraising audiences raising the profile of the charity withregional corporates, trusts, foundations and institutions. The initial appointment will be on a six month fixed-term contract (two days per week) after which a permanent contract may be offered depending on the success of the initial fundraising strategy.
Over the six months our successful candidate will:
✓ Write applications for our existing 5-10 identified opportunities
✓ Research additional application opportunities
✓ Apply to Merton based organisations to become their 2021 COTY
✓ Develop funds to support fundraising initiatives
✓ Mentor our Community Fundraiser
✓ Initiate systems and processes to help improve fundraising and maximise income
The successful candidate will be able to work well on their own initiative and within short timelines.
MertonVision is entering into a new strategic period of our development and are offering thisfantastic opportunity for the right candidate.
JOB SPECIFICATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Work with, and develop further, the existing fundraising strategy to identify and acquire new sources of funding for future sustainability
2. Develop, implement and monitor budgets for external grants
3. Examine opportunities to grow our social media presence to help with fundraising opportunities
4. Represent MertonVision at external events to raise the profile of the charity with key external stakeholders
5. Provide monthly reports on fundraising progress to the Chair and Board of Trustees
6. Maintain confidentiality of information in accordance with The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR)
7. Research potential funders (including corporate funders) and build a pipeline of prospects
8. Create high quality funding applications for core and project based funding for Merton Vision
9. Ensure all records are kept up to date on the database
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential criteria
• Demonstrate successful trusts, foundations, corporate and community fundraising experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience of managing external grant funding
• Relationship building skills, ability to positively engage with key stakeholders
• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail
• Commitment to work in accordance with the principles of equality and diversity
Desirable criteria
• Experience of working closely with a Board of Trustees
• Understanding of accessibility software
• Experience of working in a sight loss organisation
• Experience of working across a diverse workforce
Please submit your CV with accompanying letter to: info@mertonvision.org.uk
Closing date for applications 31/07/20 Interviews early August 2020
Further detail of the role and MertonVision can be seen here:
Prospectus for Fundraising 2020
MertonVision was founded in 1965 and moved to the Guardian Centre in Colliers Wood in the late 80’s.
MertonVision’s aim is to support and provide services to visually impaired children, adults, people with dual sensory loss, people with additional difficulties, from their diagnosis of permanent sight loss through the entire rehabilitative process in whatever form is appropriate for them.
The services MertonVision provide include:
• Rehabilitation and mobility training in partnership with London Borough of Merton Social Services and the Local Education Department
• Monthly children’s activity club
• A Resource Centre with specialist aids and equipment
• Working age peer support group
• An information service at Moorfields Eye Clinic, St George’s Hospital
• An optometrist to prescribe low vision aids (magnifiers)
• A fully accessible IT Suite
• Assistance with form filling
• Daily social and recreational events, including lunch club, coffee morning, art and crafts, quiz nights
• Volunteer home visiting service for befriending, escorting and help with correspondence
• Falls prevention Exercise class
• Bi monthly newsletters
• Braille transcription
MertonVision has built up an excellent relationship with the local authority and within the voluntary sector. MertonVision is one of the voluntary strategic Partners and has working relationship with the SW London CCG and St. Georges, Moorfields eye clinic
Future:
MertonVision is in the mid to late stages of a project to provide a new medical centre in Colliers Wood which incorporates a bespoke building for MertonVision free of charge. The Project will commence in 2021 and be completed early 2022. The new building will provide a number of opportunities to increase community partnership and offer community fund raising possibilities.
MertonVision recognise that everything we do is required to be professional, tailored to individual needs, be readily accessible and crucially, financially sustainable. For many years our key services have been delivered from The Guardian Centre and St. Georges, Moorfield’s Eye Clinic.
To form our plans for the future we carried out a detailed survey with a number of our service users to find out what was successful and what could be done better both for existing service users with their changing needs and for people newly diagnosed with sight loss.
The recruitment of a Fundraising Manager is therefore a key appointment instrumental in ensuring the ongoing sustainability of the project and the charity as a whole.
• Funding History
• Grants and Contracts
• Fund Raising
• Donations
Legacies
MertonVision has not received a good level of legacy income in the past due largely to not having a specific targeting legacy campaign. As legacy income has remained low, there is a need to develop new sources of income within this funding stream. The average yearly return for the last 5 years has been:
| legacies | contracts | grants | membership | fundraising |
| £5000 | £101628 | £109815 | £1500 | £6000 |
We would like to see a minimum increase of 20% in all areas.
The Trust and Grants Fund Raiser will focus on successful applications for larger funding streams;however there will be an additional responsibility of providing mentoring of a new community fundraiser based at MertonVision.
The new Community Fundraising project will increase the charity’s presence in local communities across London and surrounding areas, providing an opportunity to develop funding from local businesses and groups such as:
• Rotary Clubs
• Lions
• Round Table
• Community fundraising events
• Individual supporters
The combination of the two fundraising roles will help put MertonVision in a position where we have a tailor-made application process with some completed applications and some in the pipeline with an aim for continuous applications. The outcome should be a continued investment in fundraising together with new strong relationships with an impactful program of services to fund for: leading to a quick income of growth over the next 3 years.
Reviews:
There will be a monthly review with a clear objective of the number of required submitted bids. In addition, a quarterly report for Trustees will be required at the regular Board meetings.
If you would like to discuss the role please contact Kevin Gregory, the Services Manager, directly on 020 8540 5446 or by email: kevin.gregory@mertonvision.org.uk
