“I did lots of research when I first saw the job position thinking ‘is this going to be right for me?’ and the more I heard, the more I loved it.”
Please give a warm welcome to Mandy Karsa, our new fundraiser for the Isle of Man.
Mandy is a Manx resident who lives in Ballasalla, and she will be helping to boost our fundraising and engagement on the island.
During her recent trip to our HQ in the North East, we had a catch-up with Mandy to find out more about her life before GNAAS.
Congratulations on the new job! Could you explain what you did prior to joining the charity?
Initially I did boring banking stuff for a few years, then I was a lady that went out for lunch with friends for a little while, before I had my son, who is 18 now.
I opened my own craft business where people could build their own teddies, take part in pottery painting, as well as various other crafts. We used to do lots of kids parties as well as craft parties for adults.
Alongside that, for a period of time, I started working for a charity which supports older people in the community that have become socially isolated, either because their partner had passed away or they just couldn’t get out and about anymore because of mobility issues.
It was only a small charity, so you got involved in everything, from making the tea to hosting big events and doing radio interviews, and everything in between.
Alongside this, after my dad passed away in April 2020, through work I attended a course about the importance of talking about death and dying and what that means to people. I ended up doing a diploma in end-of-life therapy and a diploma in grief and bereavement counselling.
This led to me working with a family who asked me if I would perform the funeral of their loved one, and I’ve since conducted several non-religious funerals.
Why did you apply for a job at GNAAS?
I’d been doing my previous role for the last seven and a half years and I loved it, but it was just time for a change.
Then I just happened to see this job advertised and I thought, what an incredible charity to get involved in.
I was proud of what I did at my old job, but this is proper life-saving stuff, and it’s just great to be part of a charity that can really make a difference.
Before joining GNAAS I had already met someone who told me they were the first person that was airlifted by the team after having a heart attack.
I also knew somebody else who was involved in a horrific road traffic collision, and sadly he passed away. I knew his mother-in-law, and she had fed back to me that her daughter was grateful of the team’s help as she got the chance to go to the hospital and say goodbye.
How have you found your role so far?
It’s been great! It’s been really lovely speaking to people at the events and getting feedback from them regarding the charity. Because the Isle of Man is such a small community, everybody knows each other, and people are quite keen to find out how GNAAS benefits them.
I’m really looking forward to the challenge ahead and everyone at the charity seems lovely.
Outside of work, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I like getting back to nature and going for walks, taking photographs, being with friends, cooking nice meals, and spending quality time with the family.
If you would like to get in touch with Mandy regarding fundraising on the Isle of Man, email: mandy.karsa@gnaas.co.uk
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