I always tell people that my job as Philanthropy Manager is one of the best in the world. I support our Fundholders through advice on their grant making, and get to organise visits to local charities we’ve supported to hear about their work and the issues they face.

I’m often amazed by the relative size of the charities compared to the amount of quality support they provide. It’s a testament to how passionate people can achieve great things, despite an enormous amount of pressure from every direction.

This month, I had the pleasure of visiting several organisations showing just this. The first was Flourish Mentors in Brighton, offering one to one mentorship for women and girls at school and university. This was a fundholder visit to see first-hand how their funding was making a difference. Another was Lighthouse Arts & Training who provide an accessible programme of talks, exhibitions, professional development and education initiatives. The charity helps people find routes into and to succeed within the creative and cultural industries.