You already have the experience. Now let's work out how to turn it into a freelance career.
The 6-week live group coaching programme for experienced charity professionals ready to explore freelancing.
12 spaces available, starting January 2027
You are not starting from scratch.
You've already spent years building one of the most valuable assets a freelancer can have ‘expertise’.
Maybe you're a brilliant fundraiser, a strategic communicator, a programme manager, a project lead, a researcher, an evaluator, a people specialist, a bid writer, a trainer, a data person, a governance expert, a senior leader or something even more wonderfully niche that even I haven’t thought of.
You've spent years learning how to do something well.
Across six weeks, we'll work through your offer, ideal clients, pricing, finding your first clients and your route into freelance life.
“I thought I needed at least 4 years to get everything figured out before I was ready to go freelance, working with Bethany accelerated this massively.”
Imagine six weeks from now...
Instead of thinking: “I really want to go freelance, but I don't know where to start.”
You've got a much clearer idea of what you could actually sell.
You know who you'd like to work with and why they'd need you.
You've worked out a sensible starting point for your pricing.
You've started talking to people who could hire or recommend you.
And instead of having 47 tabs open trying to work out how freelancing works, you've got your practical 90-Day Take the Leap Plan to take you from thinking about freelancing to actually testing it.
Take the Leap is for you if…
You've got experience. You've worked in the charity sector for several years and have expertise people could genuinely benefit from.
You're thinking about freelancing. Maybe you've been thinking about it for months, maybe years, maybe you keep looking at freelance jobs or freelancers on LinkedIn and thinking: “I could do that.”
You want more choice. More flexibility. More autonomy. More say over the work you do and the people you do it with.
You're curious, but cautious. You're excited about the possibility. You're also aware that bills exist. Good. I like you already.
You're ready to do something about it. You don't need to know exactly what your freelance business will look like. But you do need to be willing to explore, experiment and take action.
Take the Leap is not for you if…
You're already an established freelancer with a clear offer, regular clients and a functioning business. You already know how to price your work, find clients and run the basics of your business.
If that's you, you probably need Freelancers for Good™ instead.
That's the next stage. Take the Leap is for the person before that. The person somewhere between: “I think I could do this.” and: “Right. I'm going to.”
The support you get in Take the Leap
Weekly Group Sessions
You won’t just learn the theory, you’ll take action. Every week for 6 weeks we meet live for teaching, coaching, encouragement and momentum.
Calls are on a Thursday, 12pm - 1.30pm, use your lunch break 😉
You'll get practical exercises, templates and a workbook to work through as you go. And each week you'll leave with one clear action, because you don't need another course sitting on your guilt-list.
The Community
Build relationships with other charity sector professionals thinking of taking the leap into freelancing in your Circle Community.
A group chat you actually want to be part of. You’ll be part of a trusted group who share useful ideas, honest perspectives and cheer you on when you need it.
“I’ve been blown away by the level of detail, care and attention Bethany gives to my individual situation, something you don’t always expect from a group programme.
Bethany strikes the perfect balance between encouraging you to develop your business and providing a sounding board for new ideas, while keeping wellbeing and our wider lives at the heart of the work.
She understands that we care deeply about the work we do, which makes it even more important to build our businesses sustainably and successfully.”
Emily Gorham
Freelance Brand Designer for charities and purpose-driven businesses
This isn’t about taking a giant scary leap.
You might decide to leave your job, sure.
You might start freelancing alongside employment.
You might use your notice period to build your freelance career.
You might spend six months saving up until you feel safe enough to leap.
You might discover that freelancing isn't actually what you want.
All of those are useful outcomes.
Take the Leap isn't here to convince you to quit your job. It's here to help you make a properly informed decision about what comes next.
Over 6 weeks, we’ll work it out together.
Week 1: Could I actually be a freelancer?
Before you do anything drastic, like quitting your day job, we’ll look at whether freelancing is actually for you.
We'll explore why you want to go freelance, what freelance work actually looks like in the charity sector, what you have to offer, what you need to consider financially, the different routes into freelance work, and whether now is the right time.
You'll create your ‘Freelance Readiness Audit’. So you're making a decision based on information, not a particularly bad Tuesday at work.
Week 2: What could I actually sell?
“I'm a fundraiser” isn't an offer and neither is “I've got 12 years' charity experience”. We'll take your experience and turn it into compelling saleable freelance services.
We'll explore what you are brilliant at, what problems you can solve, who has those problems, what transformations can you help create and what could someone actually pay you for?
You'll build your ‘Freelance Offer’. So you stop thinking “How could this possibly work?” and start thinking: “Actually... I could so do this.”
Week 3: Who would actually pay me?
Ah yes, the clients question. We'll look at where freelance opportunities actually come from, and why you probably have a much bigger network than you think.
We'll map out former colleagues, people who could refer you, other freelancers, supportive communities, agencies and potential partners
You'll collate your ‘First 30 People List’. No cold pitches, a list of 30 real people who could hire, introduce, recommend or help you get connected.
Week 4: What should I charge?
Money makes the world go round and as a freelancer you have to talk about it.
We'll work out what you actually need your freelance income to do for you, so you're not plucking a day rate out of thin air or simply dividing your old salary by the number of days you think you'll work.
You'll leave with a starting point for your pricing, not a magic number that someone on Instagram tells you you're “worth”.
Week 5: How do I get my first clients?
We’ll cover how to talk about what you do, tell people you're available, use LinkedIn without the ick, reconnect with your network, have useful enjoyable conversations, approach potential clients, spot opportunities, follow up leads, talk about your services without feeling like a walking sales pitch and yes...
You'll actually send some messages, because confidence doesn't usually arrive when you talk about your plan in a coaching session, it arrives because you’ve taken action.
Week 6: How do I make the leap?
You've designed your offer, identified possible clients, sorted your pricing, boosted your confidence, got to know a brilliant bunch of charity professionals and made some key decisions. Now what?
We'll look at whether you need to leave your job, start alongside your employment, if you need a financial buffer, notice periods, basic business set-up, contracts, insurance, tax, and boundaries.
And then you'll bring everything together into your ‘90-day Take the Leap Action Plan’. 3 months of clear, practical next steps.
After 6 weeks, you’ll have…
✓ A Freelance Direction
A clearer idea of whether freelancing is right for you and what you want it to look like.
✓ A Freelance Offer
A service or services based on the expertise you already have.
✓ A Client Profile
A clear idea of who you want to help and why they'd need you.
✓ Your First 30 People
A map of the people who could hire you, refer you, introduce you or help you get connected.
✓ A Pricing Plan
A realistic financial plan and approach to pricing.
✓ Your Freelance Introduction
A simple way to explain what you do without sounding like a corporate biography.
✓ Your First Outreach
Actual conversations started with real people.
✓ Your 90-day Action Plan
A clear route from where you are now to what comes next.
And hopefully...less fear, more clarity and the feeling that maybe this really could work.
Meet Bethany
Hi, I’m Bethany Helliwell-Smith.
I've worked in the charity sector since 2010, including fundraising roles with the British Red Cross, Wales Millennium Centre and Frank Water.
In 2020, I went freelance myself. And I've spent the years since working across consultancy, training and coaching, supporting charity professionals to do meaningful work in ways that are more sustainable.
I've seen both sides. The “security” of employment, although my three redundancies before I was 30 didn't feel particularly secure, and the freedom and challenges of working for yourself.
I've also spent years working with charity freelancers through Freelancers for Good™, supporting people who are already established but want their businesses to feel steadier, more sustainable and more intentional.
And that's taught me something important. Freelancing isn't about becoming a different person. You don't need to become an entrepreneur stereotype, thousands of followers, or a perfect website.
You need an offer that makes sense, people who need it, a way to start conversations, a financial plan and someone to help you work out what comes next.
That's what Take the Leap is for.
The Investment
£197 paid in full or 3 monthly payments of £70
Secure your place now and spread the cost across three monthly payments.
12 spaces available in total
I'm keeping the cohort small because this not a webinar with 100 people sitting silently in Zoom boxes. There will be room for questions, coaching, particular situation and for everyone to get to know the people they're taking the leap with.
You'll receive:
6 weekly live group coaching sessions (running Thursday 21st January - Thursday 25th February 2027, 12pm - 1.30pm)
Take the Leap workbook
Practical templates and exercises
Session recordings
Private community access during the programme
Your 90-Day Take the Leap Plan
You don’t have to figure it out alone
There is something very reassuring about discovering that you're not the only person sitting at their desk thinking: “Could I actually make this work?”
You'll be doing this alongside other experienced charity professionals.
You'll get to ask the questions you might feel silly asking elsewhere.
You'll hear what other people are trying.
You'll get perspective when you're overthinking.
You'll celebrate the first message, first conversation, first proposal, first “yes.”
And you'll realise: You aren't starting from scratch. You're starting from experience.
What happens after Take the Leap?
For some people, Take the Leap will be enough. You'll have a plan and you'll go off and build your freelance career. For others, you'll discover that you want support beyond getting started.
That's where my 6-month programme Freelancers for Good™ comes in.
Take the Leap = “I work in the charity sector and I'm thinking about going freelance.”
Freelancers for Good™ = “I'm freelance, now I want to build steady, diverse income and a sustainable business.”
I will not push you into the next thing, but if you want support as your grow your business, the next stage if you need it.
Do you have questions?
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Absolutely not.
In fact, I wouldn't recommend resigning simply because you've decided you might like to freelance.
Take the Leap is designed to help you explore your options, build your foundations and make a thoughtful decision about what comes next.
You might start freelancing alongside employment. You might build a financial runway first. You might use your notice period to start building your network.
There's no one right way to make the leap.
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No, that's one of the things we'll work out together.
You probably have a pretty good idea of what you're good at. What you might not know yet is how to turn that experience into something a charity could actually hire you for.
We'll work through your skills, experience, the problems you can solve and the outcomes you can create, and start shaping that into a freelance offer.
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Then you're exactly where you need to be.
Take the Leap isn't designed to convince everyone to quit their job and become freelance.
We'll look honestly at the realities of freelancing, income, finding work, responsibility, flexibility, uncertainty and the practicalities of working for yourself.
You might finish the programme thinking “Yes, I'm ready.”
You might decide “Not yet, but now I know what I need to do first.”
Or you might realise freelancing isn't the right route for you.
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Take the Leap is designed for experienced charity professionals, rather than people who are brand new to the sector.
You don't need 15 years' experience, but you should have developed genuine expertise in an area that could potentially be useful to charities.
If you've been working in the sector for several years and find yourself thinking “I could do this independently”, you're probably in the right place.
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That's completely fine.
Take the Leap isn't a fundraising programme.
It's for charity professionals with expertise across the charity sector, communications, programmes, operations, leadership, governance, research, evaluation, fundraising, HR, project management, training and much more.
The question isn't “What job do you currently have?”
It's: “What problems could you help a charity solve?”
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I'll help you build the foundations and take the actions that make finding your first client much more likely.
We'll work on your offer, positioning, network, visibility, conversations and outreach and you'll actually start putting those things into practice during the programme.
But I can't promise you a client. Nobody can honestly promise that.
What I can do is help you stop waiting for someone to magically discover you and give you a practical way to start creating opportunities.
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Nope. You don't need thousands of followers, a personal brand or to become a daily LinkedIn content creator.
We'll look at how to make yourself clear and easy to understand, and how to use the relationships you already have.
Your first client is much more likely to come from a relationship you already have than from going viral.
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No. Please don't spend three months choosing a font and building a website before you've worked out what you're selling.
We'll focus on the things that matter first:
What you do → who you help → why they need it → how to start conversations.
You can build the shiny bits later.
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Good news: I'm not going to turn you into an icky salesperson.
We'll focus on having good conversations about problems you know how to solve.
You'll learn how to explain what you do, ask useful questions, spot opportunities and talk about your services without feeling like you're performing a terrible version of The Apprentice.
Selling becomes considerably easier when you're confident that what you're offering is genuinely useful.
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Each week combines:
Practical teaching
Group coaching
Discussion
Exercises
Time to work things out
A clear action to take away
You'll also have a workbook and practical templates to use throughout the programme.
This isn't six weeks of watching me talk at you. You'll be building your freelance foundations as we go.
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I'd allow around 1–3 hours per week.
That includes the live session and the practical action you'll take afterwards.
You don't need to spend your evenings building a business.
The aim is to make meaningful progress without creating another source of overwhelm.
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Sessions will be recorded, so you can catch up.
But I'd strongly encourage you to attend live wherever possible.
The coaching, questions and conversations with the other people in your cohort are a big part of the value.
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I'm keeping the cohort deliberately small, around 12 people.
That means there's enough space for everyone to ask questions, get coaching and actually know the other people in the group.
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You'll leave with your 90-Day Take the Leap Plan and a clear idea of what you need to do next.
For some people, that's enough.
For others, the next stage will be building a sustainable freelance business and that's where Freelancers for Good™ comes in.
Take the Leap is about getting started.
Freelancers for Good™ is about building something that lasts.
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No.
Take the Leap is for charity professionals who are thinking about becoming freelance.
Freelancers for Good™ is for charity freelancers who are already doing it and want to build a steadier, more sustainable business.
If you already have clients, offers and a functioning freelance business, Freelancers for Good™ is likely to be the better fit.
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It depends where you are.
If you've done a couple of bits of freelance work but you're still working out your offer, pricing and how to find clients, Take the Leap is still be a great fit.
If you're already established, regularly working with clients and trying to solve problems around capacity, boundaries, pricing, pipeline or sustainability, Freelancers for Good™ is probably the better next step.
If you're unsure, get in touch and we'll work it out.
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No.
You can join while you're employed and still exploring the idea.
We'll cover some of the practical considerations around becoming freelance, but you don't need to have registered as self-employed before joining.
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We'll cover the basics you need to understand before getting started, including the different ways you might structure your freelance work and the practical things you'll need to think about.
This isn't an accountancy or legal course, though, and your individual circumstances matter.
I'll point you towards the appropriate current guidance and professional advice where needed.
Quick note before you join
You do not need to have resigned, developed a website, designed a logo, chosen a business name, finalised your niche, or collected a massive LinkedIn following.
You actually don't even need to be 100% sure that freelancing is what you want.
That's what we'll figure out together.
What you do need is experience, curiosity, a willingness to take action and courage.
