February 24th, 2012
Behind the Scenes
Running a small charity like the Canaan Project actually takes an incredible amount of effort. This is a really shared effort, with a majority of it made up of people giving their time for free. Volunteers for the Canaan Project do not just do face to face youth work with young people, they perform a whole range of different functions.
We have a group of trustee’s that are committed in a formal legal way to the charity and its governance, overseeing the financial, fund raising, PR and Marketing, HR and Management and safe guarding, to name a few of the areas. Trustee’s meet every couple of months, I think most important function is to hold and guard the values of the organisation making sure that we do not drift from what we say we are going to do. Thanks to our Trustees!
But there are also a range of other roles performed, for example the design of this website, people helping with fund raising, running and planning events, running special one-off projects like the spoken word workshops, HR advice and guidance, accounting and book keeping. I would encourage you to think about what skills/passions you have, and don’t think ‘well…i don’t like young people’ or ‘i can’t speak to young people, thats for younger people to do’ (i hear that one a lot!) and write yourself off, try and get involved either with the Canaan Project (this would obviously work well for me!) or a charity around the corner from you. As I speak to all the volunteers we have, I get a sense that they really enjoy it, and get something from it.
March 11th, 2011
Sifa
We have a new worker! Can I introduce Sifa. She is our new Finance and Administrative Assistant. She is working for us for 4 hours a week keeping us in check and making sure people get paid. We really appreciate her and her role. Without someone doing all this stuff we can not work effectively with young people. At this point it is also appropriate to thank Dave (the Trustee) because he has done this role over the last 3 years and set us up.
This means the Canaan Project has the grant total of 3 staff!
April 1st, 2010
James
James has been at the Canaan Project since January 2008. Before this he had experience working with young people in various contexts, including the Drugs and Alcohol field, working with NEET young people (Not in Education Employment and Training) and working with young people in a Church. He also has a degree in Informal and Community Education.
“Working with young people can be like looking for a golden nugget in a large pile of hay. It is generally hard work, but when you find a nugget, it all becomes worthwhile!”
April 1st, 2010
Fiona
Fiona joined the Canaan Project in October 2009. She has also had experience working with young people in a variety of contexts in Cambridge, Tower Hamlets and Islington. She has a degree in Music and a second degree in Youth and Community Work with Applied Theology.
“I love my job! It’s a real privilege to be a little part of young peoples journeys and to hopefully help them recognize and fulfill their massive potential.”
