Given Colin Phiri’s deep appreciation for storytelling, it comes as no surprise that ellenor’s newest Trusts Fundraising Officer has an extraordinary story of his own.
Born in Zambia as the third child among eight siblings, Colin studied and grew up in South Africa, before beginning a career in research and fundraising. Soon, this passion for the not-for-profit space would follow him to England – his home since 2023 – where he took a role as a Grants Writer for survivor support, a program within a charity dedicated to supporting victims of rape and sexual abuse.
When 2024 arrived, however, it was time for a fresh fundraising challenge: helping ellenor in raising the £7 million necessary annually to sustain its vital operations. These funds are directed towards ellenor’s care and support for families in Kent and Bexley facing life-limiting illness: from both their own homes within the community, as well as care offered at ellenor’s inpatient ward in Northfleet.
Colin’s role at ellenor is to secure funding from charitable organisations or private sources such as endowments established in memory of individuals, to support ellenor’s services. With nearly 6 years of experience as a Fundraising and Research Officer, as well as a background in sales, project management, and IT support roles – Colin is well equipped for this role.
In typically humble fashion, though, Colin credits his success not to his skills or experience.
But to his father.
Colin’s father Juma was also born to a large family – he had 19 brothers and sisters – but, tragically, his mother died during childbirth. Juma was sent to an orphanage run by the Mission Church in eastern Zambia, where he was rechristened Moses. Later, Moses went to work at a TV station in Zambia, before training as a journalist with the BBC.
“He grew up in an orphanage, alone, with no knowledge then of his half-brothers and –sisters,” Colin remembers. “But he turned out okay! Whenever I see him, I’m reminded that I owe the giving side of me – and my resilience – to my dad. He reinvented himself constantly, and never took no for an answer.”
That resilience is important – especially in an environment that doesn’t skirt around difficult conversations relating to death and dying.
“We deal with a tough topic, here. Even for me, in my culture, it’s taboo to talk about death – and the term ‘good death’ would be unheard of where I’m from. In Africa, it’s believed that if you talk about death, you’re going to die. And that, if someone is ailing, it’s always good to look at the bright side – not the realistic side.
“At ellenor, I like to think we do both.”
Colin admits that, had an opportunity at a hospice come up ten years ago, he would’ve struggled to take it – but the fact that he’s here now, and already thriving in his new role, is a testament to his personal, and professional, evolution to date.
“I’m so open, so liberal; so non-judgmental,” Colin says, describing how his life and experiences have informed his views. “I wouldn’t have thought I’d have such an open philosophy towards life. I see love as my starting point: I look at people and see the good in them first, before anything else.”
But it’s not only his philosophy on life Colin’s role at ellenor is helping him shape. Colin’s new career in hospice care is also helping him revisit – and revise – his preconceptions of the hospice space.
“In Africa, hospices are a place of refuge, where people could turn to whenever there was an illness in the family. ellenor is that – but it’s so much more, too. Working here, I’m realising how wide ellenor’s range of services is. There’s night sitting, play therapy, music therapy – it’s amazing. I see so many things here we could replicate in our societies back in Africa.”
Colin doesn’t have a personal motto but, if he did, it would probably be something close to this: ‘one step at a time’.
“For me, success is setting goals, then figuring out the steps I need to take to achieve them. Then, it’s about going through and crossing those steps off, one by one, until you get there; like planting a flag on the moon. You can do so much if, every day, you see the world as your oyster and follow your dream.
“It’s not hard work – just smart work!”
We’ve discussed Colin’s resilience, his fundraising experience, and the unique qualities his family and cultural background have enabled him to bring to his role.
But there’s another aspect of Colin’s character that makes him tailor-made for ellenor – his empathy.
“When I read something, or see something, or talk to someone, I’m able not only to understand it, but understand them; to feel what they feel about it. I’ve internalised ellenor’s vision, mission, and values this way. I know the world isn’t fair, and that there’s a strong need for social justice. I just want to add value to humankind – that’s what enables me to embody ellenor’s values.”
So, finally – why hospice care? Why work in it, why support it, why go out of your way to learn more about it? Colin’s response is swift, and resonant.
“Because, quite simply, there’s a need for it,” he says. “In times of greatest need, not everyone has access to hospice services. So it’s up to us to be there for the local Kent and Bexley communities – ensuring that hospice care remains accessible to all who need it, that the funds raised impact the lives of those supported by ellenor and their families, leaving a lasting and tangible difference.”