In Your Shoes - David Loumgair

Monday - An early morning train...

As much as I appreciate routine, one of the many things I love about working in the third sector is that no one week starts the same. Today I was up at the crack of dawn to catch a train from Aberdeen to Edinburgh, which is a nice change from the long drives I’m often making in my car! 

I’m a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and volunteer on the committee of their Scottish Community Fundraising SIG (Special Interest Group). Together, the committee plan a range of virtual and in-person events, from training and professional development sessions to networking and skill-sharing events, for fundraisers working in the charity sector. 

Our committee meet every month and, whilst normally meetings are held virtually due to members being spread far and wide across Scotland, we like to try and meet in-person every six months or so. 

Today we were coming together to plan an event later in the year about the benefits of volunteering and approaches to developing your professional network in the third sector. It was followed by a lovely lunch at Loudon’s in Fountainbridge, before I then made a dash to catch the train back up to Aberdeen!

Tuesday - Let's get local...

I like to try and keep a healthy amount of time free early in the week to catch up on emails which might’ve built up toward the end of the previous week and over the weekend. Today was focused on clearing my slate for the rest of the week, so mostly responding to emails and arranging meetings for the week ahead. 

Part of my role at SAMH is to support many of the wonderful members of local communities across the North of Scotland who are generously raising funds in support of the charity. I like to try and respond to every fundraiser as soon as possible, having set a bit of a personal rule to reply to any supporter emails I receive within 48 hours.  

Most of the messages I sent today were to lovely fundraisers who are taking part in brilliantly creative or adventurous challenges in aid of SAMH, offering them support with their fundraising efforts or checking in to see if there’s anything I can do to help. It’s always an absolute joy reading about the fantastic ideas our supporters have and their imaginative approaches to raising funds for Scotland’s mental health. 

Wednesday - Dundee is absolutely ‘drag-tastic’...

The middle of my week is when I usually try to arrange lots of meetings, whether that be virtual meetings with colleagues at the charity or in-person meetings out in the community with supporters, partners or fundraisers. 

Today though, I was in lots of meetings about an exciting new event I’m organising for SAMH called ‘Drag & Dine Dundee’, which is our charity’s spin on the traditional 'ladies lunch' fundraiser. I particularly love that we’re promoting it as “an electrifying and dazzling event which is sure to blow your wig off!” 

Drag & Dine Dundee is being held at Bonar Hall on Saturday 20th November, so now that we're only a few months away from the event, meetings about the many moving parts of bringing together an ambitious event like this are starting to pick up! 

Today I was in calls with an internal committee of colleagues at the charity who are passionate about the event and kindly helping to organise it. I was also in meetings about our efforts to build meaningful relationships with local businesses in Dundee, both to support our local mental health services, but also the potential of them becoming a sponsor of Drag & Dine Dundee or donating a prize to help our fundraising efforts. 

Tickets are still available to book! Also, if you’re reading this and you’re a local business in Dundee who shares our passion for mental health and would like to make a powerful difference to our local community here in Dundee, please do get in touch with me about the fantastic sponsorship opportunities our charity are offering for this event!

https://www.samh.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/fundraising-events/drag-and-dine-dundee 

Thursday - The delights of Dundee Kiltwalk!

Today I was focused on the logistics and planning of more exciting events for SAMH. Our events calendar is a combination of events which are organised internally by the team at the charity, as well as events organised by external organisations which we are grateful to be involved in and supported by. 

Firstly I was packing my car with our branded charity materials – feather flags, bunting, information leaflets and brochures, my trusty kit bag – ready for the Dundee Kiltwalk on Sunday! There are so many in the local community of Dundee who kindly registered for Dundee Kiltwalk in support of SAMH this year, and we manage one of the ‘Pit Stops’ along the route to cheer them on and to show our appreciation. 

I also joined a virtual meeting with our Children & Young People’s Team, discussing how SAMH can enhance the fundraising support we offer to local schools – in Dundee and across Scotland as a whole – especially through the fantastic Youth & Philanthropy Initiative. 

I was also out at meetings to discuss a business breakfast we’re planning, a health and wellbeing festival we’re partnering on with local libraries, a community dog walk we’re organising, as well as a few others about future events we have planned. 

Friday - Wellbeing walks...

Ahead of the Dundee Kiltwalk on Sunday, I took Friday as advance TOIL and spent the day trying to practice what I preach by looking after my own wellbeing!  

I love the outdoors, having recently invested in my very own inflatable kayak! Today though, looking for a slightly slower pace, I went out for a lovely walk at Hazlehead Park in Aberdeen to enjoy the phenomenal weather and follow a trail through the forest. I’m also a huge fan of cooking, so spent some time looking through recipes and planning a lovely dinner for the evening.  

All-in-all, a lovely end to the week and feeling ready to cheer on and champion our wonderful supporters at Dundee Kiltwalk this weekend!