Meganne Gill-Swift
Meganne Gill-Swift is a dedicated Events and Campaigns Fundraiser at The Myton Hospices, a local charity in Coventry and Warwickshire that provides palliative and end of life care across three hospices and in the community.
Meganne has a passion for creating memorable events and campaigns to help raise vital funds for the charity.
Tell us a little bit about your business…
The Myton Hospices is a charity that provides care and support for people aged 18+ living with a life-limiting illness, and their families. At Myton we focus on enhancing life when cure is no longer an option. We are not just about end of life care, we support patients and their loved ones right from the moment they are diagnosed. We care for people living with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses including Respiratory, Heart & Neurological conditions, Cancer and Organ failure.
How did you get into the industry?
I’ve always been passionate about events. Studying event management at university, I knew I wanted to be involved in end-to-end event management. I love that I can use my passion and skills for events to give back and make a difference in people’s lives. This led me to work in the charity sector, and I have never regretted this decision. Raising money for such an incredible cause motivates me to work hard and drives me to put on successful events and campaigns.
What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?
We are a charity and we have to raise £10.5 million of the £13.25 million we need this year to continue providing our services free of charge – that’s a lot of fundraising! Just 20% of our funding comes from the NHS so we rely on donations and support from our local communities.
One significant opportunity is to expand our existing events that we have in the calendar and to introduce new, innovative events to reach a broader audience and gain a greater support.
What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?
Without a doubt, the most crucial part to Myton’s success is our wonderful community. Without the dedication, passion and hard work that goes into fundraising, we simply couldn’t care for our patients and their families. We are incredibly grateful to each and every individual involved in the countless ways we receive support, from playing our lottery, shopping or donating goods at one of our 25 shops, to organising their own fundraising, leaving gifts in Wills, giving a donation, getting involved with workplace fundraising, taking part in an event or volunteering with us. We couldn’t do it without them!
How have the past 12 months been for you?
On reflection, what a year the past 12 months have been here at The Myton Hospices Events Team.
The past twelve months marked one of our busiest years for events, with a variety of new and exciting activities in the events calendar.
One of the absolute highlights for me was the successful return of our Charity Dinner. It was an extraordinary event that exceeded all expectations, raising over £40,000. It was a proud moment for me, witnessing all the hard work of our dedicated team come together in such a spectacular fashion. The atmosphere on the night was incredible, with a huge sense of love and support for Myton, which was truly overwhelming.
Another monumental success was our biggest Santa Dash ever! We saw over 1,200 participants donning their Santa suits and Christmas fancy dress, taking to the streets of Leamington Spa to raise money for Myton. It was an incredible sight to see and served as a powerful reminder of the joy and community spirit that The Myton Hospices inspires.
It never fails to amaze me, the unwavering support of our incredible supporters. Throughout the year, I have had the privilege to meet the most incredible individuals whose dedication and support for Myton is so inspiring. Their commitment to our cause is the driving force that enables us to continue making a difference to our patients and their families.
In summary, the past 12 months have been a whirlwind of activity, achievement, and heartfelt connections. It fills me with immense gratitude and fuels my enthusiasm for what the future holds for The Myton Hospices.
What will the next 12 months look like for The Myton Hospices?
As we look to the future we aim to make sure that everyone who needs our services is able to access them and we want to reach out to people earlier, to be alongside them from diagnosis to death. We want to help people to live well for longer with a life-limiting illness and make the most of the precious time that they have. It’s exciting time for the events here at Myton with lots of upcoming events in the calendar. For example, we have our Walk for Myton on the 12th of May which we hoping have the largest number of participants yet.
What are the highlights of your career so far?
One of the most incredible opportunities in my career was the privilege to lead a group of 25 outstanding Myton fundraisers on a trek through Machu Picchu in Peru. It was an amazing journey which was truly a heart-warming experience, surrounded by the most unbelievable individuals, with sights I’ve never seen before! Reaching the sun gate was an unforgettable moment. There was a huge sense of achievement and emotion for the whole group.
What’s the biggest business mistake that you’ve learned from?
One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned in my career is the importance of following your instincts. Experience has taught me that when you deeply believe in something, you should be brave and express your views. Don’t just sit on a great idea because you’re worried about what others might think. Always speak up in what about what you believe in, you might come up with something amazing.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given is that you should always try to do something that you are passionate about and to take every opportunity that is given to you. We know that we only have one life and that can be short, working at Myton puts that into perspective. We have to embrace the now and rinse life of everything it has to offer!
