Nov 4 • Jo Cox-Brown

Shoddy Detective: The Role of Expert Fundraising in Their Remarkable Journey

Over the years,

we’ve had the privilege of supporting countless creative organisations, helping them grow, evolve, and achieve goals they once only dreamed of. One partnership that particularly stands out is our work with Shoddy Theatre, whose journey from small church halls to the West End is nothing short of inspiring.

Their founder recently shared:
"Myself and Shoddy have had so much amazing support over the years, but one partnership that’s really shaped our journey is with Joanne Cox-Brown and her company, NTES. Their guidance, energy, and expertise have been a huge part of our story, helping us grow, evolve, and reach the point we’re at today. We honestly couldn’t have done it without her and her brilliant team!"
mITCH DONALDSON, SHODDY THEATRE

This journey reflects the transformative power of expert fundraising support. 

Shoddy Theatre used our full grant application service, which is designed to take organisations step by step from initial consultation to a fully polished, submission-ready application for Funders like Arts Council England.

Here’s how we helped them:

  1. Drafting a full application: We create a clear, evidence-based, and persuasive narrative aligned with funder criteria, ensuring your project story is compelling and coherence.
  2. Multiple revision cycles: We work with your team through several rounds of feedback, refining the language, tone, and structure so the final application truly reflects your vision and ambition.
  3. Budget review and integration: Financial information is often a make-or-break element in applications. We ensure budgets are realistic, consistent, and clearly presented, making it easy for funders to understand the full scope of your project.
  4. Final submission-ready version: Every application is proofread, formatted, and ready to be uploaded to the relevant platform, giving you confidence that your submission is professional and polished.

Lasting Partnerships

We understand that many organisations don’t have in-house fundraising teams, and navigating grant applications can feel daunting. That’s why we provide expert, sector-specific support, helping you boost your chances of success while freeing you to focus on your creative work.

But beyond the technical support, what truly makes a difference is the partnership we form with our clients. With Shoddy Theatre, this meant regular conversations, strategic guidance, and a collaborative approach to shaping their case for support. The result was not just a successful application: it was a stronger, more confident organisation, ready to take its next big steps.

Seeing our partners thrive is the ultimate reward. From humble beginnings to ambitious milestones, the right fundraising support can truly be transformative, and it’s no wonder so many of our clients come back to work with us again and again!

Whether you’re just starting to explore funding opportunities or aiming to scale your work to new heights, our team at NTES is here to help you craft applications that reflect your vision, impact, and potential.
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Final thoughts

If you’re ready to grow, evolve, and take your organisation to the next level, expert-led, end-to-end fundraising support can make all the difference. With guidance, insight, and a shared commitment to your success, we help turn ideas into reality, and dreams into funded projects. 

Get in touch!