Blog from Leilah King: Fundraising Manager (Supporters)

Our Fundraising Manager recently caught up with Clockwise, one of our charity of the year partners, about her role at OTR. We thought we’d share the highlights from their chat to celebrate Leilah being with us for one year!

What is the most rewarding part of your role?

• Helping to fund our mental health services.
• Working and networking with community fundraisers and business partners.
• Bringing local people, ideas and projects together.

What have you learned since being at OTR?

I previously worked at Bristol Mind where their mental health services focused on adults which is different to our support of young people. Since being at OTR, I have learned more about the unique experience and vulnerability of young people. How disempowering it can be to be young – how you can lack a voice and autonomy. Furthermore, how young people are impacted by political and financial issues and how this affects mental health, wellbeing and life chances. Community and project-based charities like OTR work to provide holistic support which is not one-size-fits-all. Our projects are relevant and meaningful to different communities. As a gender non-conforming gay Persian woman, I would have benefited greatly from Freedom – OTR’s gender and sexuality social action project. I am thankful that young people can get support from Freedom and experience the hope, acceptance and community that it provides. I’m proud to help fund projects like this.

How can people support OTR?

There’s plenty of ways you can support OTR:

• Set up a fundraising event – that could be a quiz, bake sale, cycle, take part in the Bath or Bristol runs this 2023, a walking challenge, or skydive.
• Nominate us a your charity of the year at your organisation.
• Donate to us via workplace giving, where you can get your employer to match your donation.

You can find out more here and by emailing Leilah