Jonathan Crutchlow – Senior Case Officer, Specialist Casework Division

“Before this I was working for the trading arm of Shell, so, when I joined the Commission in September 2008 the charity sector was brand new to me. The great thing about the organisation though is that they’re genuinely supportive and I’ve had help, advice and development opportunities from day one.

My role has meant that I’ve gained an understanding of numerous different charities and the specific work they undertake too. Every new case is different and charities’ aims vary hugely – it could involve preserving historic buildings, offering care facilities for the local community or providing international aid. Regardless of what’s involved though, the best part for me is always being able to work closely with them to achieve their goals.

I think that the biggest eye-opener for me has been the role the Commission plays in enabling individual charities to do more. I’d imagined that most of the work would be related to regulation and it’s been really interesting to see just how much more is going on here. There’s a real commitment to giving great advice and guidance.”