Success Stories

Success Stories

Annalise Matthews – Event Management Intern at Changeworks

Annalise, an Environmental Protection and Management masters graduate from the University of Edinburgh, did an internship with Changeworks in 2017. She was an Event Management Intern at the Edinburgh based environmental and recycling charity for five months and assisted in the smooth running of the charity’s 30th-anniversary celebrations. Changeworks and Annalise have kindly allowed us to feature her story as part of our Graduate Profiles blog.

The text below was originally published on their website in December 2017.

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My intern experience at Changeworks

This year Changeworks celebrated its 30th anniversary. Two key events were planned to mark the occasion. Annalise Matthews joined Changeworks as an events management intern to assist with the organisation and implementation of these events in July 2017. Find out from Annalise about her experience with us before she heads off for new adventures in the New Year. 
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Hi Annalise, so why did you apply? 

I was looking for a role to take on whilst my Master’s degree in Environmental Protection and Management at the University of Edinburgh drew to a close. In particular, I was looking for a temporary position in the environmental sector. I came across the paid internship opportunity on the Adopt an Intern website. Straight away I knew that I wanted to apply. I had heard about the great work that Changeworks gets up to during my studies and I held some previous experience organising and implementing events. It seemed like a great opportunity to work for a pro-active environmental charity, whilst putting some of my experience to use. 


Was it what you expected? 

I had heard horror stories of internships which involved plenty of tea making, endless photocopying and mountains of paperwork. So, I was delighted when I realised that I would be given plenty of challenging and relevant tasks which allowed me to use previous experience whilst gaining new skills. I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of responsibility I was given and the support provided by my manager Jo.
 

What have you got up to? 

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Initially I was involved with the organisation and implementation of two events to celebrate 30 years of Changeworks. These included an all staff gathering and a Scottish parliamentary reception, two big events in the Changeworks calendar. The staff gathering brought together all staff from across Scotland as well as former employees to celebrate Changeworks reaching a significant milestone. Whilst the parliamentary reception brought together partners, funders, clients and MSPs. In addition, I have been assisting in the role out of a pilot to trial internal communication and collaboration tools. Alongside this, I have been supporting the administrative side of a new flagship project, Change Works in Peebles, to improve greener living and working in Peebles.


Highlights? 

I really enjoyed organising and implementing the Scottish parliamentary reception. It was great to meet so many of Changeworks’ clients, partners and funders. It was also a great surprise to see some famous faces drop in. I must mention the cake! I have eaten numerous slices of delicious cake since I started working here. It is a place which is full of star-bakers who never fail to whip up a cake for staff birthdays! 


What will you take to your next role? 

Plenty of new skills and invaluable experience of working for a wonderful environmental charity.  

– Annalise

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