Meet our staff - Debbie Chalmers
We speak to Debbie Chalmers, Membership Development Manager, about her role at Sussex Wildlife Trust
Give us a potted version of what being Membership Development Manager involves
In a nutshell I’m responsible for income generation from members and legacies, recruiting new members, retaining current ones. Putting on membership events in normal times. Encouraging members to consider giving in ways other than their membership.
I do this supported by an amazing team.
When did you begin in this post?
In July 2014. I’ve been here six and a half years.
What did you do before?
I was at the National Trust, Kew Gardens and various other charities. Getting the job at Sussex Wildlife Trust was going back to my conservation roots. It was lovely to find a Sussex-based role so close to home.
What do you love about your job?
I love how it combines data, numbers and planning in combination with working with people, and it has some elements of creativity too.
What have the key challenges for you and your team been during the Covid crisis?
The challenges have been huge. If you’d have told me we’d run it all from home I’d have said it was impossible. Yet, thanks to the support of the trust’s IT team, we quickly changed the way we worked, so most things, including membership renewal could be done online. Most people have been fine to correspond by email. Once lockdown eased a little, the team started to go in once a week to deal with post. The new routine suited us all well, although with the new lockdown, things have changed again of course.
We do miss membership events though. We’d normally do over 50 per year for our members. Walk, talks and receptions. We’re hoping to pilot a return to the Woods Mill Wander as soon as we can. We hope to get back in a small way by next spring as well as putting on some online events.
Michael Blencowe, Tamara Jewell, James Duncan, Sam Roberts and others have been making some great videos to keep people engaged with nature.
We’ve been astounded by how supportive members have been. Some spontaneously increasing membership.
What do you get most satisfaction from in your role?
Growth in membership over the years – and the engagement we get. People tell us they get a lot out of it.
And we have such knowledgeable colleagues, in term of wildlife. I learn something new from them every day.
What’s coming up for you now?
It's the 60th anniversary of the trust in 2021. We are thinking of ways that we can celebrate with our members. Some members have been with us since we started.
What’s your favourite species?
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth. I’ve only ever seen one.
Photo © Barry Yates
How has lockdown been for your baking?
Well a bit bad really, because I mostly like cooking for other people, and lockdown has meant sometimes my husband and I end up eating rather too much of it between us!
Is there anything you’d like to say to members?
Thank you all so much for supporting us.