Organisations served by start bay

See below for testimonials

  • CAP - Christians Against Poverty

    CAP provides crucial support to thousands of clients who experience problematic debt. A diagnostic fundraising service was provided by Start Bay.

  • The Clergy Support Trust

    CST provides crucial support to clergy and their families in the UK. Start Bay provided support to leadership in the creation of a new fundraising programme.

  • Village Water

    Village Water delivers life saving WaSH projects across Africa. Mark Preston provided personalised, one to one support for the Head of Fundraising at this International Development charity.

  • The Hugs Foundation

    The Hugs Foundation provide rescue services for animals and well being support to children, young people and the elderly. Start Bay provided consultancy and leadership support.

  • The Church Army - UK and Ireland

    Church Army is an International Anglican charity and Mark Preston serves as a Board Member.

  • Compassion

    Compassion UK, where Mark served as an Executive and Senior Director, has more than 100,000 regular supporters and revenues of over £50m per year.

  • God TV

    God TV is a Christian media platform. Mark provided consultancy support during an unforeseen leadership transition.

  • Director of Fundraising, Christians Against Poverty

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    Working with Mark Preston at Start Bay was a very valuable experience for CAP. His analysis was thorough, delivering clear, actionable recommendations aligned with our goals. We appreciated his professional approach and the depth of insight provided. Start Bay offers a valuable service for any charity seeking to enhance its major donor strategy.

  • Head of External Relations, Clergy Support Trust

    Mark Preston of Start Bay brought clarity, strategic insight, and deep sector experience at a pivotal moment for the Trust. As we prepared to establish a formal fundraising function, his input was invaluable — combining industry leading and sector specific knowledge with practical support. Mark quickly grasped the unique identity of Clergy Support Trust and produced a compelling, respectful strategic report which sought to support the introduction of the fundraising function for trustees and staff. His input and guidance across scoping, recruitment, and strategic planning were greatly appreciated. His ability to work across teams, deliver high-quality work in a short timeframe, and offer wise counsel made him a brilliant partner. I would highly recommend his services to any charity seeking to further its supporter engagement.

  • Chief Operating Officer, God TV

    Mark Preston is an exceptional professional who made a profound impact...his leadership and expertise were invaluable and I highly recommend him to any organisation

  • Start with your story Workshop delegate from Clergy support trust


    I’ve been working in the charity sector for eight years. Sometimes, it can be easy to forget the ‘why’ at the heart of not only your organisation’s cause, but also your own career trajectory. I left Mark’s session feeling invigorated, with a wealth of new ideas and approaches to communicating our charity’s values. I was also reminded to keep my ‘why’ at the heart of my role – I now make a much more conscious effort to carve out quality time to talk to our beneficiaries and hear their stories, not only to help me be a better comms professional, but also to remind me why I love this sector. I would thoroughly recommend Mark’s sessions to any charity professionals looking to inject a new lease of life into their writing and storytelling.

  • Charity manager, the hugs foundation

    We have been really impressed by Mark's Experience, insight and support

  • head of fundraising, village water

    I thoroughly enjoyed the coaching sessions with Mark. His sessions where inspiring, insightful and solution based.

    Opening up whilst listening to Mark’s caring, peaceful wisdom was a breath of fresh air as he made me comfortable enough to feel at ease. He took his time to listen to my challenges and helped me to give clarity and direction to my goals. He also instilled in me the importance of visibility. As a result, I am more connected with who I am professionally which is paramount for my career success. I am ready to show up, I have embraced change and have already witnessed personal growth.

    I wholeheartedly recommend Mark as an excellent coach.


How I Work with You

Every organisation and leader is unique, and my approach reflects this. Whether I’m coaching a leader, delivering bespoke training, or stepping in as a fractional leader for your team, my first priority is understanding your challenges, goals, and context. I listen carefully, ask insightful questions, and work with you to create a clear, actionable plan.

Throughout our work together, you’ll experience a partnership that is both professional and personal. I bring years of executive and leadership experience, offering expertise and solutions tailored to your needs. At the same time, I ensure you feel supported, equipped, and confident in the direction we’re heading.

My aim is to help you see measurable results—whether it’s empowering your leadership, building a stronger team, or navigating complex challenges with clarity. Clients often tell me they feel a sense of relief and renewed focus after we begin working together. Most importantly, I’m committed to making a measurable difference to your work, giving you the tools and strategies to thrive.