Yasmine Davies | Autistica

I’m a highly motivated, proactive and experienced fundraiser, always working to expand my horizons and try new things. I am proud to have worked in the charity sector since leaving university, primarily in roles covering corporate and major donor fundraising, but also collaborating with colleagues and managing junior staff across multiple forms of fundraising.

I started my career at the Woodland Trust, where I gained an incredible grounding in top-quality account management and business development as part of a highly successful corporate fundraising team.

Since moving to London, I have worked at Autistica, the UK’s leading autism research charity, for over four years, leading both major donor and corporate fundraising. I have secured gifts from donors ranging from a few thousand pounds up to a million (Autistica’s first ever corporate donation at that level) and led corporate partnerships across financial services, retail and media. I created the charity’s first gala dinner which smashed its fundraising target and brought in many new donors.

My passion is creating those breakthrough moments with supporters and prospective supporters: working with major donors one-to-one often for years to find just the right project for them to fund or delivering large-scale events which inspire and enthral a crowd. I feel so lucky to be working for Autistica - it’s a fantastic, fast-growing organisation with an incredibly tightly knit, energetic team and I have the opportunity daily to meet truly inspiring people using the power of science to ensure people with autism can live longer, happier, healthier lives.

by Alison Fearn

Tonia Ashikodi

Tonia Ashikodi | Mumtrepreneur Club

Tonia is the founder of the mumtrepreneur club and the project director of The F.E.E.D Project UK . Tonia is very passionate about the community and understands the importance of giving back to society. “We cannot change the world but we can change a life”. (Tonia). Tonia's Journey in community giving dates back to 2002 when she was part of a team that pioneered a charity program to raise money for less privilege children in Africa. . In 2004, she engaged in a volunteer experience at the London Metropolitan police, where she was on the streets serving the community. In 2005, she became a certified Peer Mentor and helped young people grow their talent and increase their confidence. In 2007 she served a one year elected/voluntary term as a UK Youth Parliamentary representative for the London Borough of Bexley, where she was a medium in voicing out the opinion of over 22,000 young people within the community. In the same year she was called to join the Bexley partnership where she served for 2 years as an active member, this organisation caters to the needs of those in community development. Tonia has also volunteered at the Central London Law Center, where she dealt with issues such as Housing, Immigration and employment of which she describes as “ Some of the basic elements of stability for life in the UK”. Tonia is currently a local government Councillor and she represents the Glyndon ward in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Tonia is the Founder of Mumtrepreneur club, a social enterprise which focuses on building entrepreneurial mums and helping them create a work/family balance. The F.E.E.D project is an initiative by the Mumtrepreneur club. Tonia is highly motivated and keen on giving back to the community. Her passion for giving has led to the birth of The F.E.E.D Project . She will use this medium to promote the importance of adequate primary socialization and helping those in need.

by Alison Fearn

tanya compas

Tanya Compas | The Change Foundation

After failing my A-Levels at the age of 18, I got my first taste of work within the charity sector. I spent a year volunteering in a boys orphanage in a small town called Oropesa in rural Peru, during which I fulfilled the role of big sister, mother and carer for a group of 13 indigenous boys. This proved to be one of the most transformative experiences of my life and career. Thanks to my experience in Peru, I was accepted to study Hispanic Studies at the University of Kent, during which I took another year out to work as an English and P.E teacher in Colombia whilst simultaneously volunteering at a rural school in my spare time. In 2014 I spent 4 months volunteering in Favela Vidigal in Rio de Janeiro teaching English through football for young girls, in 2015 I spent 3 months working at a camp in San Francisco for disadvantaged young people in which I managed the programming for girls aged 13-16. After coming back from America I spent a year working as a motivational speaker in schools at a charity called WE on behalf of the Mayor Of London's office and now work at The Change Foundation as The Women and Girls Project Manager. I have a raw and genuine passion for working with marginalised and disadvantaged young people, both nationally and internationally but in particular with young women from BAME communities. I have been able to draw upon my varied experiences and lessons learnt from around the world to bring a new, unique and exciting take on youth development.

by Alison Fearn

natalie campbell

Natalie Campbell | A Very Good Company

Natalie Campbell is an award-winning businesswoman and HarperCollins author. She won the ‘Community Spirit’ award at the ‘Women of the Future Awards’ in 2016 and was recognised in the Management Today 35 Women Under 35 and City AM Power 100 Women lists. Natalie is the co-founder of A Very Good Company (AVGC), a global social innovation agency and recently launched London's newest wellbeing craze, "The Badass Principle - a workout for the mind and soul". As a non-executive director, she Chairs the Nominet Trust and has governance oversight of over £1billion in public funding through her roles on the board of the Big Lottery Fund, UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs and the Mayor's London economic strategy board.

by Alison Fearn

trishna bharadia

Trishna Bharadia | MS Society

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis aged 28, in 2008, and since then have become a leading and award-winning advocate for people with MS/chronic illness/disability, using my experiences to help others, largely through charitable work.

I’m a full-time translator but in my spare time collaborate with organisations in the UK and abroad, including MS Society (Ambassador), Sue Ryder, the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (Patron), the Cambridge MS Therapy Centre (Patron), Asian MS (Newsletter Editor and Committee member), the MS Trust, MS-UK, the European MS Platform, Disability Horizons, the Patient Information Forum, and various pharmaceutical companies, among others, to raise awareness about MS/chronic illness, improve support for people living with chronic illness/disability, and improve patient and volunteer engagement.

I speak at events and in the media about issues affecting people with MS/chronic illness/disability, campaign, write, vlog, blog, advise on health projects/research studies and educate pharmaceutical staff and healthcare professionals about living with MS/chronic illness. I’m on the steering committee for the The World vs MS Project run by Sanofi Genzyme, as well as being a member of “The Ozone” virtual round table for key opinion leaders across healthcare specialties by Oyster Healthcare. In 2015 I  put MS on the national map by appearing in the first ever “People’s Strictly for Comic Relief” on BBC1, a four-part Strictly Come Dancing spin-off, in recognition of my charity work. I’m regularly asked to speak at conferences and workshops on topics ranging from living with chronic illness, improving patient engagement and volunteering.

I’ve been pioneering within the Asian community, where chronic illness/disability (especially for women) is still not talked about openly.

My charitable work has had a profound impact on the world of MS, particularly when it comes to increasing understanding and showing people how living a positive life is possible with chronic illness.

by Alison Fearn