Staff Testimonials

See what some of our new employees have to say about us!

I have been working for the CCT for just over 3 months after previously being in banking & finance for the last 15 years.  I needed a change of career which cared about my work/life balance – I have not regretted it for one minute since starting.  I work with caring, likeminded people, who are always happy to help and make every day enjoyable.  With the Trust being quite small, there is an expectation to take on many jobs and projects which makes every day varied and never boring! 

The whole package of pay, Civil Service Pension & generous holidays make the switch across to public sector easier and I have got the balance I needed with my family.  I could not recommend the Churches Conservation Trust more highly, it has been the perfect choice for me with a management and colleague network second to none.

Blaise Coleman - Business Support Officer

I work for The Churches Conservation Trust as a Customer Service Administrator for Champing. The application process was clearly set out, the interview and application went smoothly. My induction training was very thorough, all carried out online with no problems with either completing it and definitely no dreaded IT problems.  I have been made to feel very welcome and meet regularly with my fellow team members online and they have always made themselves available to me, no matter how daft the question and they have never made me feel like it was a daft question!  

 I am really looking forward to my first all staff get together; it will be great to see each other in person. I love the variety the role gives me, from dealing with customer enquiries to making sure our guests have the best Champing experience possible. On the days when I get to swap my home office for a different view, I have to remind myself that this is actually my job and I’m getting paid to visit these amazing churches and communities, it’s a real privilege.

Charlotte Suleyman - Customer Service and Admin Assistant, Champing

I joined the CCT in September 2022 working part time (three days a week) as site co-ordinator for Holy Trinity, York. My role is to organise the events that take place at Holy Trinity and to ensure that the site is open to the public as often as possible. This involves planning and delivery, publicity, volunteer management plus caring for the building on a day to day basis. No two days are the same! This position was the second one I had applied for with the CCT – the first time, I did not get the job. The process was helpful, however, since it gave me an insight into what the CCT was all about. Although I come from a family of Catholics, I am not very religious and, as a former employment lawyer starting out on my second career, I care very much about access and inclusion. The CCT is all about how we can preserve and use our church buildings for the future as part of the communities they are located in. Now I am up and running, I am very much enjoying playing my part in this – being allowed to shape my role while working alongside amazing volunteers and getting advice from knowledgeable (and patient!) colleagues.

Gemma Murray - Site Coordinator, Holy Trinity, York

Picture this.

October 2022: Having been blessed to get such an amazing apprenticeship at 17, I started my journey with this organisation and within the three months that I have been with the Churches Conservation Trust I have learnt so much ranging from helping to organise and host events, to meeting the team and learning the ways the trust works. This is not just a job, it’s a new amazing community which welcomes you with open arms. You get so many opportunities to grow and express your ideas and passions.

There’s always work to be done and never a dull moment, we all work well so together and it is such a personal best to work for the Trust, knowing it is a charity and that here, at Sound and Art St Swithun’s we are building a vibrant music and art venue in the heart of the city centre!

Working in such a unique area, with a disability friendly employer, I know I am supported in a position that I love while learning and studying for a Business Administrator BTEC, too. I may be only 17 and at times, naïve, but I really couldn’t imagine doing anything better at such an early stage in my life!

Emma Karasak-McDonald - Business Apprentice, Sound and Art St Swithuns