Collaborating for impact: a Q&A with the EY Foundation team

Rachel:

I am currently Head of Fundraising at EY Foundation, I say currently as this is my third role within EYF since joining the charity in 2018. As Head of Fundraising, I am responsible for much of the organisation’s income generating activities from events and employee fundraising and grant makers.

James:

I am the Regional Programme Manager for Scotland and have been at EY Foundation for seven years now.

Johnae:

Hi, my name is Johnae and I am a Rotational Intern at the Foundation, and I have been here for six months.

Kate:

I am the Employer Engagement Manager, which basically means I get employers involved in our programmes and workshops, and I’ve been at EY Foundation for four and a half years.

2.      Why did you want to work for the EY Foundation?

Johnae:

I wanted to work at the Foundation, because I know first-hand the impact it has on young people. After completing two programmes with the Foundation myself, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to give other young people what the Foundation gave to me.

James:

I wanted to work at the EY Foundation because I wanted to work at an organisation that was passionate about supporting young people from low-income backgrounds. An organisation that wanted to have a real impact on those young people and equip them for the future world of work, which I believe is the most effective way to them improving their life chances and opportunities.

3.      Can you share a specific moment or experience during your time at EY Foundation that made you feel like you were making a difference in the lives of young people?

James:

Thinking back to the first programme I delivered at the EY Foundation, a 16-year-old girl took part from an area of Glasgow that was and remains an area of high deprivation. When she walked into our office for the first time, she was looking around everywhere – at the decor, the facilities, and the overall environment. When I asked her if she thought it was nice, she replied “people like me don’t deserve to be in places like this”.

Her reply has never left me, and I made it my mission during that programme to prove to her that there were people just like her, from similar locations and backgrounds, that worked in this office and were doing well for themselves.

She admitted by the end of the programme that her mind had been changed, and that she now realised that individuals from all backgrounds can thrive in these places.

Kate:

Several! My favourite story to tell is about a young person called Daniel. He was paired with Anthony (a bank manager) in a mock interview on a Your Future programme. I’d met Anthony through a networking event, and he was really keen on getting involved.

Having never heard of this bank before, Daniel was intrigued, and Anthony kindly invited him for a branch visit to learn more. Anthony recommended he look at available jobs in a neighbouring office, where Daniel then secured himself a grad job, aged 18! He’s been there now for 2 years and loves the culture.

4.      What has surprised you the most about the impact that the EY Foundation has?

Rachel:

I think it is actually the impact on volunteers that always surprises me.  We are reliant on thousands of amazing volunteers each year who, alongside their busy professional lives, make time to support young people as mentors or in other roles on our employability programmes.

The impact of our volunteers on young people is obvious, but how transformative the experience can be to our volunteers is easier to overlook. I have heard volunteers share how being part of an EYF programme has been the best part of their year, talk about how it has supported their career progression and even made them realise a whole new career path.

Johnae:

One of the biggest surprises is how big of an impact the EY Foundation is making. There is of course the direct impact from the programmes and the employability workshops, but also the impact on wider systemic change. For example, the Foundation is working with employers to ensure they actively drive social mobility and engage with young people from low-income backgrounds. It’s always nice to know that the organisation that you work for and the people you work with are nose deep in their passion for creating change for young people like myself.

5.      What advice would you give to people wanting to work with or support the EY Foundation?

Rachel:

EY Foundation is a small organisation having a big impact and there is a way that everyone can play a part. Whether you want to get really involved in transformative change and would like to join the charity as a secondee, or become a long-term volunteer, or if you want to take on a personal challenge and raise money for the charity, because we are a smaller organisation your input can really make a difference.

We are also an open and evolving organisation, everyone in the team is very welcoming and there are lots of opportunities to learn, share your expertise and try new things whilst also making a difference to future generations. 

Kate:

Some people tell us that they "wouldn’t know what to say” or feel that they "haven’t got anything to offer”.  Young people are very diverse – some respond well to the confident, motivational speaker types, but others relate more to the quieter people who share their stories in different ways. We need all types of people to volunteer with us to make sure that all young people meet someone who is a voice for them!

We know that volunteers get so much out of volunteering. We hear frequently that “it’s been the highlight of my week” or “I realised some skills I didn’t know I had!” It is a real buzz for the young people and the volunteers when the light bulb moment happens.

Please come along and give it a go!

To learn more about EY Foundation’s work and get involved, visit our website at www.eyfoundation.com.