GOSH Charity creates director of fundraising role

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Charity has ramped up its senior leadership team by creating a director of fundraising role.

The move comes as the charity faces a £25m fall in income due to Covid-19.

The newly created post is to be filled by Liz Tait, who joins from Teenage Cancer Trust where she holds the same role.

In her new role Tait will head all fundraising functions “with a remit to grow and diversify income” to help in the charity’s work to support the care of seriously ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London, according to GOSH Charity.

Her appointment comes as the charity also announces the appointment of Bill Cunningham as director of finance and resources. He joins from Plan UK, where he is Chief Operating Officer.

Both Tait and Cunningham will join GOSH Charity in September.

Earlier this month Louise Parkes, Chief Executive of GOSH Charity announced that the charity is predicting a £25m fall in income, due to the affect of Covid-19 on fundraising activities.

Parkes said: “Like other charities, the Coronavirus crisis has impacted on some of our fundraising activity but it has also provided new and innovative ways for us to fundraise at a time when the hospital needs our support more than ever. I am thrilled that we have attracted such talent to our senior leadership team to help us seize these new opportunities.”

Tait has more than 20 years experience in fundraising, having previously worked at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the British Red Cross, Sense and Plan International UK.

“The hospital is a much-loved national institution, and as a fundraiser I am so inspired at the thought of supporting the children, young people and families that it cares for,” said Tait.

“The sector is facing a challenging time with the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on fundraising, but I am looking forward to joining a fantastic team and I can’t wait to start working alongside them to meet this challenge.”

Cunningham added: “I am really looking forward to getting started, and hope to bring my finance and commercial expertise to help the charity, both during these challenging times and beyond.”