Julie Hocking

I started my career in theatre, working with corporate sponsors. From there, I moved into the charity sector, working for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and later Macmillan Cancer Support. 

After working for one of the UK’s biggest charities, I wanted to get closer to the people all that fundraising was actually for. I joined Visably in 2016. My role has grown a lot since then, but the heart of it hasn’t changed: building relationships with our supporters and making sure they know the difference their generosity makes.

I’ve learnt so much from the people we support. Every conversation gives me a better understanding of accessibility, inclusion and the difference the right support can make if you’re living with sight loss. And I’m still learning. 

As a fundraiser, I feel like I should say a good day is when a lovely donation comes in. And of course that feels good! But the best days are when I hear what that support has made possible for someone. One woman we supported had lost her sight and, a few years earlier, her husband. She loved singing with her local choir, but practising the songs at home had become difficult. The tech we gave her meant she could listen to recordings independently, learn the songs and get back to something she loved. 

That’s what stays with me. Something relatively simple can have a ripple effect across someone’s life. It’s not really about tech. It’s about the independence, friendships and parts of yourself it can help you hold onto. And none of that happens without our supporters. I can’t thank them enough. 

Outside of work, you’ll find me on a windy beach walk in Suffolk, cooking or pottering in the garden.