May 2026 CEO Blog

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This month, I am really pleased to introduce Amy Barrett, who takes up her full-time role as Community Fundraiser from 1st May.

Amy joined RVT in May 2024 as part of the administration team and has quickly established herself as a valued member of the organisation. Since moving into the Community Fundraiser role in October 2025, she has shown a real aptitude for working alongside our supporters. What follows is Amy’s own reflection on fundraising, her experiences, and what this role means to her.

A Fundraiser’s Perspective – Amy Barrett

There can be no words to explain the people that have supported the Road Victims Trust in the two years that I have been working here, and in the 30 years prior. Almost everyone that I speak to that is aware of RVT seems to have a special connection with it in some way.

In fundraising, I meet families affected by tragic and serious collisions that want to give something back to the charity that has supported them, or their families, or even without having received the service themselves. The truth is that our supporters give so much back, I cannot even begin to explain this or do it any justice in so few words.

I meet people and learn about their losses, the people that they are honouring and remembering while they fundraise or donate. Every injury, psychological, physical and every person killed is a tragedy and I want to take a moment to also honour those people and their families so widely affected by all different types of collisions.

Fundraising is essential in any charity, and it is inevitably woven with the work the charity does. Without funding a charity can’t operate and do its work, but it is the work of the charity that gives it a reason to fund, and RVT has so many.

Background

Its probably important here for me to share a little bit about my story. I was hit by a drunk driver as a pedestrian many years ago and have lifelong facial scarring, psychological and physical injuries. The criminal trial of the driver, at which I had to give evidence as a ‘witness,’ caused inexplicably more psychological damage than the collision itself. I also went through a complex civil claim which was challenging, but also an essential part of my recovery.

I wasn’t eligible to receive support from RVT as I lived outside of the areas that are covered. I therefore speak for the rest of the UK when I acknowledge what an absolute treasure this organisation is and that it should be protected with the upmost ferocity.

Years after the collision, I worked for almost a decade in the prison service in operations, regional litigation and national safer custody based in London. One of the main lessons, and the most important thing that I took away is my absolute belief in the importance of restorative justice.

Poetry

I am a self-proclaimed ‘spoken word artist’ and poet. I have always written poetry as an outlet for my experiences and I enjoy taking extremely difficult subjects, turning them into art, and throwing them back into the world. My first poem published was in 2006, it’s called ‘How?’ and was written about the drunk driver of the car that hit me. I was also longlisted in the Bedford International Poetry Competition this year for a poem about traumatic brain injury called ‘Remember me.’  The Bedford Competition organisers are a fantastic group of people who kindly made a large donation to RVT last year.

The future of fundraising

This is only the beginning of what can be achieved. We redecorated the Kempston counselling room in January with the help of Bedford Council and the River Great Ouse Rotary Club, and it was clear how many local businesses and organisations are willing to help small local charities, and what can be achieved even in just two days of painting! We still have the rest of the main office to update which is a work in progress, but the client experience is always the priority.

The landscape of fundraising is changing, and we are moving with the times, as we all must do. If you want to support RVT and see what’s going on, I share a monthly Community and Events newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/rvtrust/newsletter-signup

An event not to be missed, and one I would advise purchasing tickets for, is the RVT comedy night at The Place Theatre on the 4^th July: https://www.theplacebedford.org.uk/shows/charity-comedy-night-in-aid-of-the-road-victims-trust/

Thank you

As a fundraiser I always have to end with a THANK YOU! I say this on a daily basis and it never feels enough. I want to thank all of the fundraisers, supporters, donors, everyone that has supported RVT in any way and shared their own experiences in the process. I can’t describe the impact you have had and how essential and important every singe £1 is to the Trust.

I want to thank all of the people that have stepped forward since I have been in this role to share ideas and support with events. Previous staff, leaders, and people affiliated with RVT and those working for other amazing charities. The trustees whose knowledge and drive is incredible and the clinical team who are so elite and good at what they do, after just one conversation with them you feel unstoppable!

And finally, I want to thank The Road Victims Trust for this opportunity and for believing in me. I am grateful to have survived, and I don’t ever take that for granted. It is the privilege of my life to do this work with such incredible, talented and compassionate people that truly believe in providing the best support to people affected by collisions.

Together we can achieve anything, and I want to acknowledge all of the people that created and built this organisation since 1994 and those that have worked so hard over the years to grow it to what it is today.

So let’s continue to support this one-of-a-kind charity, let’s fundraise!

Amy Barrett

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Paul Cook
Chief Executive Officer
The Road Victims Trust

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