Dan Freshwater

Consultant

A strong communicator skilled in negotiation, stakeholder and people management. I am an experienced leader with a passionate belief in the power of the voluntary sector to deliver services that support the most vulnerable in our communities. I have experience leading charities delivering a wide variety of services including advocacy, employment, community support/Transport, IAG, health & social care and campaigning.

I am comfortable managing diverse income streams including central govt contract funding, the Lottery, ESF/SPF, Trust and Foundations, LA contracts, direct trading and high value community fundraising.

I’m now looking for opportunities to help not-for-profits pan-sector to set strategy, deliver their plans and secure a stable financial future. I’m happy delivering both discreet projects and filling leadership roles on an interim basis.

Key Skills/Consultancy Specialisms:

Key Projects:

The BEST (Birmingham Employment Skills and Training) Network establishment and business development, an iso9001 accredited social enterprise acting as managing agent for a consortium of voluntary sector providers

I was responsible for developing a consortium of employment/training focussed not-for-profits across Birmingham to the stage where it had 65 members who collectively delivered over £6m of programmes for NEET young people and long term unemployed adults.

Group re-structure, Social Care in Action, a charitable Hampshire/Dorset based provider of social care and health/well-being services

On appointment as CEO I initiated a re-structure of the Group in order to end loss-making activities and to focus on sustainable trading activity. This included the sale of 6 x NHS dental practices; turning a loss-making arm into a £4m restriction-free fund available to fuel the Group’s future ambitions. It also included the merger in of a counselling charity and a move into the delivery of specialist care/supported living.

Bridge to Work (an intermediate labour market programme), the Wheatsheaf Trust, a charity dedicated to supporting the unemployed and under-skilled to prepare for, enter and sustain work

Bridge to Work was a £1.2m intermediate labour market programme joint funded by the Lottery and the European Social Fund. Despite initial reluctance from the LEP to undertake their role as local fund-holder I was personally responsible for convincing local stakeholders of the need for such a programme and for securing the funding for the Wheatsheaf Trust. This multi-year programme gave 100s of participants a chance to undertake paid employment with local employers, leading many to secure long-term positions.

Dan Freshwater

Key Skills/Consultancy Specialisms:

Key Projects:

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