3SG Welcomes New Team Member, Rob!

We are thrilled to be welcoming Rob Wicke into the 3SG team this week. Members may know Rob as the project worker for Radstock & Westfield Big Local over the past 12 years, overseeing £1m Lottery funding for the area. 

To ensure this good work is not lost to the community as the project comes to a close, the Radstock & Westfield Big Local CIC Directors and Partnership Board agreed to support two years' funding for Rob to come over to 3SG as part of our wider team. 

Both Rob and Becky (3SG's Director) will be reporting into a Big Local Steering Group to ensure the work continues in a similar vein, including delivering the popular Dragons' Den annual event. There will also be an additional, wider focus on other areas of the Somer Valley as part of this offer. For 3SG, we look forward to supporting Rob using our wider team, connecting some of our current projects to his existing work and strengthening our offer in Radstock, Westfield, Midsomer Norton and surrounding areas. 

We would like to thank the Big Local for their dedication to Radstock & Westfield over the past decade and for trusting our organisation to give Rob a base for the next two years. Welcome, Rob!

Rob's official first day was last Wednesday, so our Operations and Comms Manager, Emma, took the opportunity to ask a few questions to find out more about Rob and his motivations behind joining 3SG.

You can read the full Q&A below:

What are you most looking forward to as part of your role with 3SG?

"Having team meetings with colleagues! I’ve been working solo for six years so I’m really excited about being part of the lovely 3SG team. They have such a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a passion for all things third sector; I can’t wait to learn from them and also contribute my perspective and skill-set. 3SG are at a pivotal moment in their development, expanding their team and their projects, as well as moving into a brilliant new space that will connect with the 3rd sector community in productive and innovative ways, so I don’t think I could have joined at a better time!"

Tell us a little bit about yourself

"I’m a village boy at heart, having grown up in one in Hampshire, and moved to another in the Somer Valley about ten years ago, after a detour through the energetic city of Bristol to study Sociology. It’s the countryside, the slower pace of life and the fresh air that does it for me!

I’ve got so many hobbies and interests it’s hard for me to keep track of them, or get good at the ones that require skill… the list includes painting, gardening, music, footy, growing mushrooms, beekeeping, travel, meditation, qigong, walks, and cat parenting! 

I’m also a fully qualified health-pain-stress coach, and I love creating spaces (online or in person) for people to step back from their busy or difficult lives and experience something different for a moment."

What interested you about working for 3SG?

"I’ve worked in the third sector for the past twenty years, with the majority of that time spent within Bath and North East Somerset. My most recent role was for the Radstock & Westfield Big Local, where I supported their residents to invest over £1m in the local community projects they wanted to see grow. Naturally my path crossed with 3SG on many occasions and they often supported our Community Dragons’ Den events by supplying a friendly Dragon - both Becky and Toni have undertaken the role to perfection.

In my new job I get to expand my patch to include the rest of the Somer Valley, and continue the best parts of my previous role - connecting with local people, supporting local groups and charities, and finding ways to make a positive impact in the community for the good of all."

Tell Us a Fun Fact About Yourself?

"I get withdrawal symptoms if I haven’t had my chilli fix… breakfast, lunch, dinner - it doesn’t matter when or what, it will get drenched in chilli sauce!"

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To get in touch with Rob Wicke, Third Sector Somer Valley Development Manager, contact rob@3sg.org.uk