Marketing and communications support with a clear line of sight.
Practical marketing and communications support for organisations doing work that matters. From communications strategy and fundraising bids to campaigns and interim cover, I help purpose-driven teams turn complex messages into clear, effective communications.
● ABOUT
A generalist, by design.
I'm Nancy, a generalist marketing and communications professional based in the Lake District, with over a decade's experience across the charity, nonprofit and private sectors. My day-to-day work spans hands-on marketing and community engagement for a mission-led organisation, alongside volunteering as fundraising lead for a UK defence and security nonprofit — work that keeps me close to the daily reality of running a lean, resource-conscious operation, whatever sector it's in. As a freelancer, I bring that same inside view — writing the newsletter, briefing the board, chasing the deadline, and explaining the results to the people who need to see them.
“Not an agency looking in, but someone who has sat inside the organisations I work with.”
What I do
Communications support
BRAND
Brand & messaging
Clear positioning and a case for support that holds up under scrutiny — from mission statements to donor-facing narratives.
CONTENT
Newsletters, social, website copy and campaign content that sound like your organisation, not a template.
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising & bid writing
Grant narratives, funding proposals, donor communications and commercial tenders.
ENGAGEMENT
Stakeholder & community
Member updates, volunteer communications, event comms and cross-sector relationship building.
STRATEGY
Strategy & planning
Comms audits and practical plans a small team can actually deliver, anchored in purpose.
INTERIM
Short-term or part-time support for maternity cover or a particularly busy campaign period.
Sectors
Terrain I know well.
Charities & NGOs
Defence, forces & security
Arts, heritage & culture
And beyond that — I'm always happy to hear from community and grassroots groups, and small, purpose-driven businesses running lean.
Charities and nonprofits across different sectors
Cross-border and international organisations
Museums, galleries and heritage trusts
Vantage points
A few things behind my work.
Cross-cultural fluency
I lived and worked in Beirut, including through a period of regional instability.
A few extra languages
Conversational Russian, working Spanish and Portuguese.
Comfortable with complexity
Time spent supporting fundraising for a defence and security NGO.
Four steps, no jargon.
HOW I WORK
01
02
03
04
Listen
Understanding your mission, audience, and the ground you need to cover.
Map the terrain
A clear communications audit and a practical plan designed for lean teams.
Build the message
Crafting narratives and campaigns that speak with a clear line of sight.
Launch & hold the line
Managing the results, from the first message to the final report.
● GET IN TOUCH
What do you need a hand with?
Whether you need a clear communications plan, support with a funding bid or an extra pair of hands on a busy project, let's talk. Based in Cumbria, working with organisations across the UK and beyond. Send a note and I'll come back to you within a couple of days.
highgroundcomms@outlook.com
Location
Cumbria, UK — remote & UK-wide
Availability
Freelance, remote
Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Certified
Microsoft PR & Communications Associate
BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of Dundee