New Fundraising Relationship Officer, Harry Evans, recently joined the InFocus team, and shared with us his experiences during his first few weeks.

Why did you choose to work at InFocus?

I was keen to work for an organisation at the heart of the Exeter community, and primarily to work on projects designed to support people to maximise their potential. By coincidence this is InFocus’ mission, so I guess we can call it a match made in heaven?

What is one memory/focal point that has stuck with you during your first few weeks?

I have three. Firstly, during onboarding myself and some colleagues received some initial training on the subject of visual impairments. Now, I had some very basic knowledge on the subject but I was blown away by the broad nature of challenges people with visual impairments and complex needs will face on a day-to-day basis. Afterwards I left with even more respect for the work InFocus’ staff provide, but also for the perseverance and dynamism displayed by the young people of InFocus.

And then it was just last week when going to get a coffee I was asked by a large group of students whether I would like to sit down and meet everyone. I could barely catch my breath before the group’s leader started to real off the various talents displayed by the friend group. We had DJs, braille connoisseurs, and comedians a plenty 

And finally, the roast dinners served in the onsite cafe are utterly phenomenal. All in all, it was hard to select a few standout moments, but the stories that highlighted InFocus’ community and dedication to care and support definitely stood out for me.

Did you have any initial reservations?

Indeed, as I had little to no experience of working in this sector. Fortunately, I have met some people within the organisation that are incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, and happy to share their advice at every juncture. I believe there is the right balance of challenge, avenues to develop and learn, and ultimately, rewarding experiences. This was experienced during our induction to Therapy with Nicky and Nicky (not a typo) when we got to try out Winston the horse simulator, albeit wearing eyes mask to try and simulate the experience of our young people. Of course, we may never be able to fully appreciate what it is like to have a vision impairment, but both Nicky’s went to such great length to give us an insight into the challenges, and the equipment available to open up the world. In the end I have no reservations, as neither the staff nor students have reservations – they just get on and achieve wonderful things.

What are you most excited about going forward?

I really enjoy planning events and getting involved in them where possible, so designing and implementing events to support our cause will be high on my radar. I also like working with outside businesses on collaborative projects, so we will see what happens!

Was the onboarding challenging?

The onboarding was challenging in the sense there was a lot of new and complex information to consider, but this was challenging in a rewarding sense as I could really feel myself developing a new knowledge base to take forward. From learning new software packages, to understanding each staff member’s role, there has been plenty to get to grips with.

What was done well with onboarding?

I really valued doing my onboarding with another new member of staff, especially as they were from another area of operations. This gave me an instant insight into the different areas within the organisation, as well as someone to refer to throughout the initial training.

Have you had opportunity to explore the grounds, especially West Hill Outdoor Learning Centre?

I soon learned about the brilliant work the Estates team do regarding the campus’ natural features via everyone’s adoration for the inclusion of various plants, fauna, and garden features. It was during my third week that my manager, Sue, arranged a tour of the Outdoor Learning Centre, and a chat with Horticultural Project Manager, Patrick. This is a place where InFocus’ young people can come and immerse themselves in the wonderful botanical gardens and landscapes that have been carefully designed over the years. I would recommend to every new starter to visit the Learning Centre when the opportunity arises as you will not only get a feel for the immaculate dedication that has gone into the project, but the vital importance of having such a resource available for our young people.