Meet our team: Suzanne Harris, Fundraising Manager

01 Dec 2020

In this blog series we look forward to introducing our team here at the CCT. We hope you will enjoy learning more about the scope and variety of the work that we do.

This week we spoke to Suzanne Harris, our Fundraising Manager, who is based just outside of Cheltenham and has been working for the CCT since January 2010. 

What is your role at CCT?

I’m the Fundraising Manager and my role is really varied with a focus on developing fundraising strategies, grant fundraising and supporting staff and volunteers to raise funds for projects. I work very closely with the Regeneration team on major projects including at Bolton, Kings Lynn, Ipswich and most recently at Sunderland and Worcester and Sudbury. I also really enjoy working on smaller projects that make a real difference to communities.

What is your background? 

I studied History and Drama at King Alfred’s College Winchester, which is now the University. Prior to stumbling into fundraising 20 years ago I worked primarily in information/research jobs including at the Saïd Business School in Oxford. 

What is the first CCT church you visited?

It was to meet with the Friends group at St Peter’s in Sandwich Kent, I remember very clearly because it took me 7 hours to get home on the train! But it was worth it as the church is beautiful with a fascinating history.   

What was the most memorable thing to happen to you since starting at CCT?

So many things in the last 10 years it is hard to think of one! Many years ago watching my colleagues’ horror as they abseiled off the tower at St Mary’s in Shrewsbury springs very close to mind. Prior to Covid-19  I travelled all over the country and I think I could probably write a book about the memorable things I’ve seen and heard on train journeys!

What is your favourite detail found in a CCT church and where is it?

Most definitely the sandstone used to build Old Christ Church in Waterloo Liverpool.   The colours and the patterns of the sandstone creates a real wow factor when you walk in the church. The church is also very special to me as I’ve worked very closely with the Friends group there in the past, the church is an area of significant deprivation and the group work tirelessly to support fundraising and to keep the church open for the community. That to me is what it is all about. 

© Old Christ Church, Waterloo