Meet Hayley Roffey! GFC’s Global Managing Director shares her passion for working with children and young people and what drew her to GFC.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

I am from London and now live in the countryside in Gloucestershire. I have lived in a few different places in the UK, including Cardiff, West Sussex, and Winchester.

I have always been passionate about and committed to working with children and young people. Even from a very young age, I volunteered to help at local children’s clubs and earned my pocket money babysitting. I saw the difference it made when children were genuinely seen, listened to, and acknowledged, and how the right role model or support could help children facing the most challenging circumstances live a life free from harm. I honestly think working with children is the best job in the world. My entire career has been built around this passion – even when I worked as a journalist, I worked on magazines written for young people, particularly girls.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORY?

Living in a home where the front door was always open to anyone who needed a safe place. We always had guests for dinner; many different friends lived with us over the years during times of struggle; and there were always people around, coming in and out of the house, filling the house with energy and laughter. Even though life was challenging and we often could not afford basic bills, my mum and dad never let us know how tough things were and always prioritized time together as a family. I always felt loved and secure at home, and now as an adult looking back, having already lost one of my parents, that is the most precious memory of them all.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH GFC? WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS LINE OF WORK, AND WHY HAVE YOU STUCK AROUND?

I have worked for GFC for five years now. However, my relationship with the organization began in 2011 when GFC scouted the organization I worked for, asphaleia action, to be a grantee in the UK. I have been fortunate to be part of GFC for many years, first as a grantee partner and now as an employee.

The GFC model is incredible, and I get to work with the most inspiring, fun, hardworking, and creative colleagues in the world. Not to mention all the amazing partners, donors, and peers we work with on a daily basis. I honestly feel so lucky, every week, to be here and to do this job – even in the toughest times.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB? WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SATISFYING?

It is definitely challenging to raise all your income – and GFC does just that. This is especially true when you are raising funding for a model that many donors still find hard to understand. Giving unrestricted funding to groups in local, and often underserved, communities is still not as common in philanthropy as we would like it to be, so raising the money we need to do this can be very hard. However, it’s also the most satisfying part of my job. Influencing others to understand WHY this way of working is so crucial to long-term systemic change in local communities is so rewarding – it’s the biggest joy to watch what truly unrestricted funding can do in communities for children and youth.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE GFC’S WORK IS IMPORTANT?

More than ever, it is critical that funding and resources are moving into the hands of young people who are standing up for what they need in their communities. Some of our newer initiatives, like the Spark Fund, are demonstrating that young people can be trusted to make decisions about where resources flow into their communities. I am so proud to be part of an organization that truly believes that young people can achieve amazing change.

#FunFacts

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY GROWING UP?

I absolutely adored Barbies and reading books – I happily played Barbies alone for hours, creating stories for them. And then I got inspiration from hundreds of books. Some of my favorite childhood memories are sitting in my room, reading and getting lost in incredible, make-believe places. I still love to read.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

An actress! In fact, I performed as an actress and dancer well into my 20s. One of my favorite roles was as Robin Hood in pantomime. We toured local primary schools – it was so lovely to hear lots of children’s laughter and to have loads of fun onstage at the same time.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

I hang out with my kids and husband and have dance parties in our kitchen (we call them kitchen discos!). I also love to run (fully acknowledging that not everyone will think this is fun!) and listen to music.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

Yes, two dogs. A gorgeous old Westie called Rocky who is nearly 13 years old, and Nova, our stubborn rescue bulldog, who is four.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I wish I could close my eyes and open them anywhere I wanted to be! I really don’t like the time it takes to travel to be with some of my favorite people…and I admit to being a nervous car passenger!