Alex Gunz

Fundraising support - Central Office

Alzheimer's Society: The logical choice

After having spent nine years working for several investment banks in the City, I decided to have a career break and return to university to complete a second degree. Between studying, I was keen to use some of the skills I had acquired during my time in the City by volunteering for a charity, and the Alzheimer's Society was the logical choice for me.

Prior to working here I had regularly been giving to the Society since 2003 and ran the London Marathon for the Society in 2005, raising over £2,500. I had been very moved by Iris Murdoch's experience with Alzheimer's and believe dementia and its consequences are very misunderstood and under-represented in the media and the world around us.

Understanding how charities work

From my perspective, I was also very keen to understand how a typical charity is structured bottom-up and how all of the different departments worked with each other. I was lucky enough that the Alzheimer's Society was able to provide me with this opportunity. In the seven weeks I have been here so far, I have met with several fundraisers working in different areas such as trusts and events, listened in to the Alzheimer's Helpline (a very moving experience) and attended a two-day induction course. Most importantly, I have been able to undertake a number of projects in the major giving area of fundraising, which has been most rewarding. In the near future, I have placements in the corporate fundraising and campaigns teams, both of which I am looking forward to and should give me further opportunities to understand the importance of the work undertaken by the Society.

Learning new skills and meeting new people

Working for a charity has not been significantly different or more daunting than what I had expected, and my experiences here so far have led me to conclude that it could, ultimately, become a full-time career option. At the very least, volunteering has given me the chance to learn new skills and utilise my existing knowledge base in a different and rewarding way while meeting new people. Against this background, I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone!