How one volunteer helped two charities thrive through Media Trust’s Volunteer Platform

When we relaunched our Volunteer Platform last year, our goal was simple: to bridge the gap between creative, media and tech professionals eager to give back, and the charities that need their expertise the most. 

After joining the platform in 2024, Genevieve Miller (Talent & Inclusion Lead at the Professional Publishers’ Association) discovered two charities whose missions deeply resonated with her belief in equality and opportunity.  

With a mix of strategy, storytelling and smart timing, she’s supported two charities on key projects – one focused on creating an impact report, the other on developing a charity-wide comms strategy. 

We caught up with Genevieve to hear how volunteering has shaped her perspective, and why she believes every professional has something invaluable to offer. 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career?

My career divides into two distinct halves: the first in marketing and communications, followed by a pivot into talent and people development about eight years ago. I love helping organisations create environments where people can develop and thrive – whether through training and upskilling, or inclusion initiatives that make sure people feel valued and motivated.  

The golden thread connecting everything I do is communications, particularly my ability to distil complex stories and land the right messages for any audience. ‘Make a long story short’ is one of my favourite sayings! 

How did you get involved with Media Trust’s Volunteer Platform?

I began volunteering with the Media Trust in 2024. Now self-employed, I work part-time for a membership organisation in the media sector alongside consultancy projects, and I finally found the capacity to get involved – I’m so glad I did. My motivation was twofold: to learn how charities operate from the inside, with an eye to future trustee work, and more importantly, I wanted to help tackle the inequality that persists in our society by doing something practical. 

Which charities have you been working with, and what do they do?

I’m currently working with two charities through Media Trust: MathsMakers and Sheffield Futures, both of whom focus on supporting young people. 

MathsMakers needed help with their communications strategy, specifically building awareness of the work they do within state secondary schools in London. They have a small team of brilliant maths tutors who support pupils struggling with maths. Teachers often don’t have the capacity to help everyone who falls behind, and that’s where MathsMakers bridges the gap. 

For Sheffield Futures, the ask was more specific: to help them plan and deliver an impact report in their 30th anniversary year. They support thousands of young people in and around Sheffield to improve health and wellbeing, and progress in education, training, and employment. I find their work inspiring – particularly a wellbeing service for young people called Door 43. 

What kind of support do you provide, and how often do you meet with them?

My time with both charities ebbs and flows slightly, but it’s roughly a few hours per week for each. I started by asking them what they needed! For both charities, it’s been some strategy work – discussing challenges, asking lots of questions, helping come up with solutions – but also hands-on support. Both charities are very tightly resourced, so being able to draft copy or do some desk research adds a lot of value and frees up their time to tackle other priorities.

What impact do you think your volunteering has had?

Both charities have given me some lovely feedback, and I’ve learnt an incredible amount about how they operate and the challenges they face. Before volunteering, I didn’t fully appreciate just how agile charities need to be to stay relevant and viable. Changes to central funding or new legislation can mean a whole different way of operating, so they have to be extremely resilient. 

If anything, this makes me more determined to help, and I definitely see more volunteering on the horizon! 

What advice would you give to someone thinking of volunteering?

Do it! Think of volunteering as collaborating rather than consulting. Particularly with smaller charities, be prepared to roll your sleeves up and do what’s needed. Don’t be afraid to suggest ways to do things better or differently, but ground this in reality – charities usually operate with severe constraints on time and money. 

Overall, you’re likely to learn a lot more than you’re expecting, expand your professional horizons, and it’s incredibly satisfying to witness the progress that can be made in a short space of time.

Join our Volunteer Platform

Genevieve’s story is just one example of what can happen when creative professionals use their skills for good. 

Whether you’re a graphic designer, copywriter, social media manager or data specialist, your expertise can help a charity unlock its potential. You might just find yourself gaining as much as you give! 

If you’re inspired to make a real-world impact and connect with causes you care about, join our Volunteer Platform today.