Working for Scope: Philip Mann
Tell us about yourself
From September 2006 until December 2011, I worked as the Production Co-ordinator in the Communications and Marketing department, based at Market Road. My work included co-ordinating the production of leaflets and other material for Scope’s different departments. In January 2012, I moved to the Trusts Fundraising department at Scope to work on the new challenge of asking trusts to consider supporting Scope with financial donations.
Before that, I worked on a two-year oral history project called Speaking for Ourselves, co-ordinating the work of volunteers who had recorded the life stories of people aged over 50 who have cerebral palsy.
I am married with a 18-year-old stepson and a five-year-old son, and live in Cambridgeshire. I was born with cerebral palsy, after being born 10 weeks early. I concluded my formal education at Oxford Polytechnic, having first started at a school for disabled children.
What were you doing before Scope?
Before working for Scope, I worked in publishing and the computer industry, mainly in editorial and marketing support roles. I largely worked for small commercial organisations and have also worked in broadcasting, mainly for BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, specialising in disability issues. As a volunteer, I also helped to run a small community theatre company.
How did you hear about Scope?
As a child, I had contact with what was then the Spastics Society and the Assessment Centre in Fitzroy Square. Later, when I was working in broadcasting, I had further contact with Scope and reported on the change of name, and on Scope’s work in the build-up to the Disability Discrimination Act. I live near Meldreth Manor School, so knew about the great work that goes on there.
What do you enjoy most about the work?
It's great to be working for an organisation that provides a range of services that make a real difference to people's lives and that tries to change things for the better. Everyone likes to feel that their work is important, and it's good to be able to complete a job well, seeing the results that you expected to see.
What has Scope enabled you to do?
Working for Scope means that I can now work full-time in the charity sector. This is more of a motivation than working for purely commercial organisations. It’s interesting working for an organisation that provides services and exists to offer support where it is needed by disabled people and their families.
I have recently become a trust fundraiser.
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