Farewell and thank you to our Fundraising Officer, Sophia!

This week’s blog was written by our Fundraising Officer, Sophia! Sophia is sadly leaving us to pursue a Masters in Education at University College London (UCL) at the end of September.

We are gutted to lose such an integral member of our team, but we’re so excited for Sophia as she embarks on this exciting, new journey. Beacon won’t be the same without her, so join us as we say farewell and thank you to Sophia.

We’ll miss you!

Can you sum up your time at Beacon for us, Sophia?

I have had an amazing time working for Beacon. Everything about my time here has been exciting, rewarding and enjoyable. Connecting with people from across the rare disease world and working with the lovely Beacon team has been an absolute pleasure. Being Fundraising Officer has allowed me to get involved with every aspect of Beacon and taught me so much. I’ve appreciated every moment!

What made you decide to get a Master’s in Education?

I am really interested in the educational inequalities that exist in the UK. I want to know more about the barriers there are for people to access opportunities and thrive within the education system and want to learn more about what can be done to resolve these problems. I’m excited to meet new people and get one step closer to making education fairer for everyone.

What’s next for your career?

After graduating, I’d like to return to the charity sector and work for an education charity. My experience fundraising for Beacon has shown me how interesting and fun it is to work for a small charity so I’d like to keep doing that!

Where can you expect to find you post Beacon and Masters?

Honestly, I have no idea! I know that I’d like to be in the charity sector working in education but I don’t know where. Maybe I’ll be in London, maybe I’ll be in Cambridge, maybe I’ll even be abroad. So, watch this space.

What will you miss most about Beacon and the team?

Everyone is so friendly! From the staffing team to the patient groups, everyone is such a lovely presence. I will really miss the interesting conversations and great atmosphere at the Beacon office.