Meet our new Hospital Fundraisers!

We'd like to welcome Kevin, Sophie and Laura to our team. As Hospital Fundraisers, they'll be responsible for supporting Barts Health staff, grateful patients and families, and the local communities to help raise more funds

Kevin Machin – Whipps Cross and Newham Hospital Fundraiser

Email: kevin.machin@bartscharity.org.uk
Call: 020 7618 1723

What’s your background?

I had a long career at Plan International UK and was the Senior Community and Events Officer there. It gave me a great understanding of how best to support fundraisers who were tirelessly working to raise money for projects. I was fortunate enough to visit some of the projects, mostly across Africa and see first-hand the huge impact these projects were having on people’s lives

Why did you choose Barts Charity?

For some time now I’ve been keen to fundraise for the NHS. Working for an international development charity was brilliant, but I also couldn’t ignore the needs here on our doorstep in the UK.

As someone who passionately believes in equality, working at Barts Charity hugely appealed to me, as access to quality healthcare shouldn’t be a postcode lottery. I’m excited to be working with a health trust that not only delivers fantastic and innovative healthcare projects, but also because some of the most deprived areas in the UK will have access to these.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m really excited about meeting with staff across the hospitals to find how I can best support any fundraising and helping them access funding. But also working together to get patients and their families and friends supporting Barts Charity – either through telling their stories or carrying out fundraising in their local communities.

Sophie Wallace – Royal London and Mile End Hospital Fundraiser

Email: sophie.wallace@bartscharity.org.uk
Call: 020 7618 1723

What’s your background?

I’ve worked in fundraising for health charities for the last five years at Marie Curie and Bowel Cancer UK, running large events, supporting fundraisers with their events and hosting lots and lots of bucket collections!

Why did you choose Barts Charity?

From working in health charities for the past few years I’ve seen the impact that good care and support from the NHS has had on so many people going through so many different experiences. Having the chance to support the kind of additional projects that will make a difference to patients is hugely exciting, as well as being able to support NHS staff after such a tumultuous year.

What are you most looking forward to?

One of the things I’m most looking forward to is getting to know and talk to all of the amazing supporters and staff and hearing about the ways they’ve been supporting the charity, and getting to share the incredible work that is happening.

Laura Darby – St Bartholomew’s Hospital Fundraiser

Email: laura.darby@bartscharity.org.uk
Call: 020 7332 9349

What’s your background?

My background is in arts and heritage, I have worked at the National Trust since 2016 and have been involved with a wide variety of fundraising initiatives whilst working there. I’ve worked on National community fundraising such as the 125 Challenge, supported the National Trust Property raffle, events including fun runs and volunteer quiz nights. I wasn’t allowed a favourite whilst working there but I can admit now that I always loved working on redesigning and developing the second-hand bookshops best.

Why did you choose Barts Charity?

I chose Barts Charity because of the opportunity to move out of my comfort zone and get involved in NHS fundraising. As much as I loved working in the heritage and arts sector I wanted the opportunity to work for a cause that was built around caring, supporting and helping people. I think the work that Barts NHS Trust and Barts Charity do together is amazing, and I am very excited to be a part of that now.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone and getting back into doing the work that I love. I have been on furlough leave for an extended period of time and I am itching to get back to work and start fundraising.

Recruiting three new Hospital Fundraisers is part of our ongoing commitment to support Barts Health NHS Trust. By better engaging staff, patients and our wider local East London community, we aim to increase the amount of donations we’re raising to fund even more patient care and staff wellbeing projects across the hospitals.