Ian Cunningham - Senior Development Officer

What was your first job?

I was an HGV mechanic and trained from school. I worked with the same company for years but when they closed I moved into voluntary work with children – youth clubs etc.

What is your current role and what does it entail?

I am the Senior Development Officer for the Community Action team at PPRC.
It is a really varied role and one which requires me to adapt to change quickly.
The team's purpose is to engage with community groups in Renfrewshire to help them improve. My role is to manage the team, problem solve and always be ahead of the game. We are an “exactly what it says on the tin” company and always go above and beyond to deliver our service.

What’s good about your job?

The main upside to my role is the great strong relationships you develop with the community groups. It brings a great deal of job satisfaction when you know your efforts, and that of the team have made a positive difference to the lives of others. I also enjoy the autonomy that comes with the job, the freedom to act and be responsible for your own workload.

And bad?

There is sometimes a degree of desk based activities i.e. paperwork which I don’t enjoy, I am more a get out anddo it kind of guy. I also don’t enjoy the uncertainty of the funding system which comes with the job. We are exposed to political changes and this can be unsettling when things change at a higher level, however changes is a good thing in my opinion so although it is unsettling it can bring about positive change.

If you could invite 5 people to a celeb dinner party who would you invite?

Lee Evans for the comedy
Alex Ferguson to hear his football stories
Jackie Chan to see some martial arts
Richie Blackmore from Deep Purple for the music
Gordon Ramsay to cook a first class meal

If you could be any animal what would it be and why?

A shark because they eat, sleep and makes more baby sharks!

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