25 years of the CRA – spotlight on: Susan Cooper

This week the CRA spotlight is on Susan Cooper, Commerce Manager at Highland Hospice, who joined the CRA Board in 2020.

Having been part of the charity retail sector for many years, Susan joined the CRA Board to champion smaller charities, to share her knowledge and expertise on the awareness of the particular issues smaller charities face.

“I felt it was important that the differences, in size, in physical area of work and in nationality in the sector are recognised,” Susan says.

Having joined the CRA Board at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Susan’s first experience of working with the other Board directors was through regular Zoom meetings, which made it difficult to get to know each other as Susan puts it, “those that I didn’t know already were just faces on a screen.” However, the challenges that the Covid pandemic brought to the charity retail sector meant that the CRA had an important role in supporting its members through the ongoing changes in rules, regulations and periodic lockdowns, which was a memorable time to be part of the CRA Board.

Susan and the rest of the CRA Board met much more frequently than usual to discuss the way forward and how they should be advising the whole of the membership. 

With the whole retail sector pulling together and both commercial and charity retailers coming to the CRA for advice, Susan feels that the CRA played an invaluable role in supporting the sector during this time:

“Without the leadership of CRA at this time I think that the retail arm of many charities could have really struggled and even just gone under.  As things ended up, we came out even stronger and that felt like a job very well done – thanks to the amazing team,” Susan says.

Asked what her favourite part of her role is, Susan says it is meeting up face to face with other directors, because of the willingness the Board members have to share and be open with one another.

“There is such a willingness to share and to be open with one another.  It is good too to hear of the issues the nationals have which, sometimes are just the same as we smaller charities have and sometimes completely different”, Susan explains.

Asked what she thinks the CRA contributes to the success of charity retail, Susan says that she thinks the CRA contributes a “huge amount”:

“The Association has shown leadership and vision and is so well regarded and trusted.  New ideas are considered, discussed and decisions made. We promote and measure best practice both from charities and suppliers.  The research, advice, support and general helpfulness is second to none and not something, as far as I know, available in mainstream retail.

“In 25 years, the Association will look very different, I cannot imagine how, but I know it will and it should.  Perhaps looking to support an arm of the Association overseas because CRA is such a leader?  Perhaps changing the tax laws to automatically allow 100% GA on donations!”

Thank you to Susan for sharing your thoughts with us as part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations!

09/09/2024 20:58