Barry Gadsden
Croydon,Surrey
Summary
Seasoned professional in volunteer management and coordination. Bring about strategic volunteer recruitment and retention by leveraging skills in communication and team leadership. Foster community engagement and commitment through well-planned programmes, campaigns and initiatives. Experienced under pressure in logistical planning within conflict zones and managing humanitarian aid distribution across multiple teams at home and abroad, prioritising communities most in need. Demonstrates empathy and compassion, with a background assisting refugee resettlement to the UK. Experienced in fundraising and operational planning, showcasing flexibility and adaptability to meet diverse challenges.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work history
Humanitarian Aid Logistics and Volunteer Co-ordinator
The White Eagle Ukraine Appeal
Balham and Croydon, London
03.2022 - 03.2024
- Receiving and sorting through a high volume of public and corporate donations in readiness for direct shipment to Ukraine and Poland on behalf of a fledgling not-for-profit charity.
- Liaising directly with Ukrainian NGO’s to ensure relevant aid is received where demand is immediate.
- Co-ordinating the volunteer teams as well as ensuring colleague well-being during extremely busy periods.
- Provision of practical and emotional support in assisting displaced refugees settle into the UK as smoothly as possible during a traumatic period in their lives.
- Documenting and overseeing the storage and shipment of donated goods abroad from our local warehouse.
- Logistical planning of aid stored in warehouse ahead of distribution to specific recipients based in Ukraine and Poland.
- Managing the volunteers across multiple sites and helping to ensure emergency aid is safely transported from the donation centre to our warehouse for dispatch abroad via HGV transportation
- Tracking systems implemented to provide donors with regular feedback on aid reaching its destination.
- Planning and involvement of successful fundraising/aid specific campaigns.
Youth Worker
Surrey Clubs for Young People
08.2012 - 02.2013
- Assisted in the running of a local Youth Club.
- Arranging regular activities designed to help improve the social skills, confidence and positive behaviour of each young person participating.
- Responsibility in engaging with young people through listening and conversation. This ranged from discussions of aspirations to overcoming problems at home, school or in a wider social context.
- The motivation to help improve a young persons confidence and provide a sense of self-worth.
- Headed up the promotion of events at local clubs within the local via regional news websites, 'X' (formerly twitter) Meta etc, which helped to increase public interest and turnout.
Independent Financial adviser
Independent Mortgage Bureau
06.2005 - 12.2006
- Independent advisory role allowed full use of the mortgage industry to help identify clients’ mortgage wants and needs through regular face to face interviews.
- Worked closely with clients purchasing new properties with the on-site estate agents.
- All aspects of mortgage/insurance applications overseen personally. This included liaising not only with client, but solicitors, mortgage centres and various insurance departments in order to ensure a smooth application from start to finish.
- Issued detailed written reports of all advice based interviews undertaken.
Financial Adviser
Abbey National/Santander
01.2003 - 05.2005
- Branch based mortgage sales advisor with regular customer contact providing advice on mortgages and associated insurance products.
- Effective management of customer databases which ensured relationship with clients were maintained. This frequently led to the generation of further sales to help exceed monthly sales targets.
- Mortgage advisory role covered 5 different Abbey National branches; regularly helping each to achieve their mortgage-based sales targets.
- Constant use of IT systems to track application progress.
Branch Manager
Abbey National/Santander
11.2001 - 12.2002
- Responsibilities included organisation of sales campaigns, bookkeeping, staff training, successfully finding resolutions to customer complaints and leading by example in a pro-active approach to customer service and sales opportunities.
- Actively involved in monitoring and ensuring the branch regularly met and exceeded its sales targets.
- Covered all areas of staff recruitment from initial interview stages and selection process through to the arrangement of specific training, including development of product knowledge, use of IT systems, core job responsibilities and health and safety training.
Skills
- Humanitarian aid distribution logistics
- Team management and volunteer coordinator
- Refugee assistance training
- Non-Profit knowledge
- Donor relations
- Event planning
- IT proficiency (Microsoft Suite)
- Empathy and compassion
- Strong work ethic
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Social media promotion
- Understanding vulnerability
- Fundraising experience
Additional Information
Voluntary Work, Travelling, Sport, History, Astrophysics, Reading, Studying
Education
- CeFA 1,2,3 Qualified (Certificate of Financial Advisors) 2001
- CeMAP (Certificate for Morgage Advice and Practice) 2001
- 3 A levels including English and Psychology, John Ruskin College
- 8 GCSEs including English and Maths, Shirley High School
- TEFL (Teach English as a foreign language) qualified, TEFL.org
References
Available on request
Timeline
Humanitarian Aid Logistics and Volunteer Co-ordinator
The White Eagle Ukraine Appeal
03.2022 - 03.2024
Youth Worker
Surrey Clubs for Young People
08.2012 - 02.2013
Independent Financial adviser
Independent Mortgage Bureau
06.2005 - 12.2006
Financial Adviser
Abbey National/Santander
01.2003 - 05.2005
Branch Manager
Abbey National/Santander
11.2001 - 12.2002