Business Development Manager

At Nafsiyat, I led on business development and external engagement for one of the UK’s only intercultural therapy centres. My role involved securing funding, expanding training income, and building the organisation’s profile with partners, funders, and the public. I managed a portfolio of strategic activities, including:

Raising over £750,000 in grant funding from sources including the Department of Health and Social Care, National Lottery, and City Bridge Foundation.

Generating £33,000 in commercial income by expanding Nafsiyat’s intercultural awareness training offer to NHS Trusts, universities, local authorities, and corporate partners.

Managing partnerships with organisations such as the Kent Surrey Sussex Health Innovation Network and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities to co-develop bespoke training.

Leading communications across social media, newsletters, and the Nafsiyat website, helping raise the organisation’s profile and promote mental health equity.

Supporting project delivery through handover planning, risk assessment, and budget tracking—ensuring seamless transitions from funding to implementation.
This role combined fundraising, stakeholder engagement, programme oversight, and strategic communications to help Nafsiyat grow its impact across North London.

Spearheaded successful grant applications and secured prominent media features.

At EveryYouth, a national youth homelessness network, I have lead on impact reporting and data strategy across 11 delivery partners. My work directly informs programme development, fundraising, and national policy engagement. Key areas of focus include:

Designing and refining EveryYouth’s monitoring and evaluation framework to track outcomes around housing, mental health, and employment.

Supporting funding bids with high-quality evidence, contributing to successful proposals by demonstrating systemic need and programme effectiveness.

Producing EveryYouth’s Annual Impact Report, used to engage funders, trustees, and the wider public.

Conducting desk-based research and longitudinal data analysis to map regional disparities, with particular attention to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), care leaver status, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ identity.

Coordinating case studies and impact data across the partner network, working closely with local charities to ensure consistency and insight.

Providing strategic updates to senior leadership and contributing to the design of new programmes and national campaigns.

This role sits at the intersection of evidence, strategy, and communications.

Developed and submitted compelling grant applications and advised on fundraising strategy.

Lead promotional campaigns and build strategic partnerships within the youth homelessness sector.

Excel Specialist: Produced data models using Excel and SPSS to inform UK energy policy. Dissertation cited in stakeholder briefings.

Dissertation: Explored human rights and climate violations in the fast fashion industry, offering strategic recommendations for ethical reform.