“Voluntary sector – man and boy!”

I'm delighted to be a CharityConnect Champion. Here's my Q&A with them: ** We spoke to CharityConnect Champion, Richard Sved, to discover how he got where he is today! 1. How did you first get into the charity sector? I’m voluntary sector – man and boy! In fact I started out volunteering at school way before I realised it was a sector I could work in, regularly visiting a local boy called Paul, and helping to organise my school’s “Mencap Fun Day”. By the time I got to university, I became heavily involved in a wonderful charity called KEEN, a highlight of which was doing the hokey cokey with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Then, upon graduating I became KEEN’s first ever employee, so I suppose that was my first paid role in the sector. I found my early years in charities to be particularly hard work, and not especially well paid, but a lot of fun. Looking back, I learned so much. I just may not have realised it at the time! 2. What interested you about the charity sector? My interest in charities has always been driven by the volunteering element, which is something I try to maintain to this day, whether it’s as a trustee or volunteering at community events. I also realised pretty early on that I was motivated by the passion that I could find in the charity sector, the passion that motivated people to do great, important things, and bring about change. This still excites me now. I’m getting goosebumps at this very moment! 3. How did you progress in t