Testimonial

During our time together at Sandwell Arts Trust, Helen was an invaluable member of the team whose fundraising expertise, insights, and skills ensured the charity’s work was effectively supported.

Helen unlocked new sources of income through the creation of a strategically pragmatic fundraising plan and her positive can-do and resilient approach.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Neil Anderson
Director of External Affairs
Black Country Chamber of Commerce

January 2021

Sandwell Arts Trust was set up to run The Public (arts centre), which opened in West Bromwich in 2008. Its location within a socially and economically deprived area of the Black Country, West Midlands, provided significant challenges to local acceptance – particularly from the Local Authority tasked with providing 80% of the centre’s annual income. However, with a resilient and experienced leadership team, The Public slowly started to live up to its iconic exterior and attract world-renowned artists to showcase their work.

Offering a varied programme of visual arts, creative workshops, theatre, and music, it welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and provided a home for many local artists and creative organisations.

Freckle’s Director, Helen, was appointed as Funding Co-ordinator in April 2010 – where she led the fundraising activities of the arts centre until its closure in 2013. During her time at The Public, Helen:

  • Developed a fundraising strategy, identified prospects, and made direct approaches.
  • Generated over £850,000 from trusts and foundations and donations.
  • Developed and implemented an Individual Membership Scheme.
  • Researched, developed, and monitored a range of grants and sponsorship packages.
  • Led on providing regular reports for management and key stakeholders.

Sadly, despite increasing its earned income and visitor numbers, the withdrawal of the Local Authority annual core grant, resulted in the centre having to close its doors in November 2013. The site now forms part of Sandwell College’s Campus.

Archive website for The Public can be found at: http://www.thepublicstory.com/