Line Manager: Rosey Oakes (Community and Corporate Fundraising Lead)
Pathways Programme: Pathways to Charity and Development
Summary of Organisation: The Mare and Foal Sanctuary is a Devon-based charity that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes horses and ponies in need. We have four sanctuaries across Devon – in Newton Abbot, Totnes, Holsworthy and Yelverton – where rescued horses and ponies receive the care and support they need. We also support horse owners going through tough times, offering free advice and practical help through our Welfare Outreach and Advice service.
How did hosting an intern via the Professional Pathways programme benefit you and your organisation?
“Hosting an intern through the Professional Pathways programme was a really positive experience for the team at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary.
Libby joined us for two weeks and worked alongside me on a project researching potential corporate partners and supporters. She helped identify businesses that might be interested in working with the Sanctuary, researched their links to our local communities and recorded useful information that we can use for future approaches and relationship building.
This was particularly useful because research and prospecting are important parts of fundraising, but can be difficult to prioritise alongside the day-to-day demands of a busy role. Libby was able to make a real start on this work and gave us a useful bank of information that we can continue to develop and use.
The work she completed will help us identify new opportunities for corporate partnerships, volunteering and fundraising. Developing these relationships can ultimately generate income and support for the Sanctuary, while also helping more people understand the work we do across Devon.
It was also lovely to see Libby develop in confidence during her time with us. She was enthusiastic, asked thoughtful questions and brought a different perspective to the work, which was valuable for me as well as for the department.”
How was your experience of hosting a Pathways intern?
“My experience of hosting a Professional Pathways intern was extremely positive. Libby worked with us remotely, which I initially thought might be a challenge, particularly as she was only with us for 35 hours. In practice, it worked really well.
We made sure we had regular check-ins throughout the placement, and I introduced her to several members of the team so she always had the opportunity to ask questions and talk through what she was working on, even if I was out of the office. We also made sure she had plenty of background information about The Mare and Foal Sanctuary and a clear idea of what her project involved.
My advice to anyone hosting a remote intern would be to communicate regularly, give them a clear project and make sure they know who to ask when they have a question. Don’t assume that because they’re working independently they don’t need contact – those regular check-ins make a big difference.”
Given the Professional Pathways internship is 35 hours in total, how would you recommend ensuring both you and your intern(s) gain as much as possible from the experience?
“With only 35 hours available, I think preparation is really important. Before Libby started, I identified a project that would be genuinely useful to us but was also realistic to do within the time available. I also made sure she had some background information about The Mare and Foal Sanctuary and an idea of what her role would involve before she arrived.
On her first day, we spent time introducing her to the organisation and the different teams before talking through her project and breaking it down into manageable tasks. This meant she had a clear idea of what she was working towards, rather than spending valuable time trying to work out where to start.
I kept in regular contact with Libby throughout the placement and checked in on her progress. This meant I could answer questions quickly, help if she got stuck and make sure her time was being spent on the most useful areas.
I’d also recommend allowing some time for the intern to see beyond their specific project. Libby was able to learn more about the wider work of the Sanctuary and how different teams contribute to it, which I think made the experience much more meaningful.
My advice would be to choose one clear, achievable project, provide plenty of context at the beginning, check in regularly and give the intern enough freedom to bring their own ideas to the work.”
Why would you recommend hosting an intern via Professional Pathways?
“I would definitely recommend it. It’s a great opportunity to give a student meaningful experience of the workplace while also getting something genuinely useful back for your organisation.
For us, Libby’s research gave us a head start on developing new corporate relationships and identified opportunities that we can continue to explore. At the same time, she gained an insight into working in the charity sector and the different roles and skills involved.
I also think there is real value in having someone new come into your team and ask questions about what you do. Sometimes explaining your work to someone who knows very little about it makes you look at it differently yourself.
The 35-hour format also makes it a manageable commitment for an organisation, particularly if you have a well-defined project ready for the intern to work on. For us, it was a very worthwhile two weeks and I hope Libby came away with a better understanding of charity work, some useful experience and a little more confidence about where her skills could take her.”