Charlotte Campbell joined the Children's Heart Unit Fund (CHUF) team in 2016. As director of fundraising and operations she leads the team to achieve its annual fundraising target to support its work supporting children and families who receive treatment by the Children’s Heart Unit at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital and other North East hospitals providing care for cardiac patients.
What was your first job, and how much did it pay? My first job was in a call centre for the wonderful fair trade organisation Traidcraft. I was paid £10 per hour, which felt like a fortune at the time! I was thrilled to be earning more than my friends working in bars and restaurants and it gave me an early appreciation for the value of ethical business.
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of having the right tools to manage long-term projects. It comes down to control (understanding what needs to be done and by whom), confidence (trusting in the plan), and consistency (delivering reliable results over time). When you have these in place, you set yourself up for success.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? Rising costs, both internally and for our supporters, are making it increasingly difficult to fundraise. People are more conscious of where their money goes, so we have to work harder to demonstrate our impact and maintain trust.
What would your dream job be? Philanthropist! Being in a position to make a real difference to all of the causes I care about would be amazing.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? The highs are incredibly rewarding, but you have to be resilient. There will be challenges and moments of frustration so it’s important to stay focused, learn from every experience and surround yourself with people who inspire and support you.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? The openness to partnership and willingness to share advice. There’s a real sense of community here and people want to help each other succeed, which creates a fantastic environment for growth and collaboration.
How important is it for business to play a role in society? It’s absolutely crucial. Businesses don’t operate in a vacuum, they shape communities and have real power to drive meaningful change. Embedding social responsibility into workplace culture isn’t just a ‘nice to have’, it should be a core part of how we operate.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? I love hosting and bringing people together. Whether it’s Sunday dinner or a big party, I get a lot of joy from creating memorable experiences for my family and friends.
Who would play you in a film about your life? I’d have to go with Audrey Hepburn. Not only is she an absolute icon but she was also really involved with charities and did a lot to support children's access to clean water, vaccines and education across the world.
Which three people would you invite to a dinner party, and why? I’d invite my husband, daughter and late nana as I really can’t think of better company.
