Child care
A new business group forms in Brighton and Hove to help put an end to child cruelty
A group of business professionals from the Brighton and Hove area are actively creating a corporate supporters’ network in aid of the NSPCC – one of the UK’s leading children’s charities. Designed to harness the enormous goodwill that exists among the region’s business community towards the charity, the NSPCC Brighton & Hove Business Group will co-ordinate a range of exclusive corporate fundraising and business networking opportunities during 2010. Funds raised by the group will support the work of the NSPCC, and will directly benefit vulnerable children and young people.
Any business based in the city and surrounding areas, regardless of employee numbers or size of turnover, can become an associate member of the NSPCC Brighton & Hove Business Group which is one of a growing number of NSPCC Business Groups around the country. Membership is free, although there is a suggested discretionary joining donation of £50. There are also some key roles on the group for those who would like to use their skills in a more focused way to help.
NSPCC Business Group Chairman and founder member, Richard Shaw, MD of locally based IT Solutions company Tyler James, says: “By joining the local NSPCC Business Group companies will send a strong signal that their organisation recognises that good business practice goes far beyond the bottom line. In this current, very difficult economic climate, many of us are arguably in danger of becoming too introspective as we focus hard on the issues that affect our business.
“There’s a genuine will to harness the business community’s desire to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives”
“Although I was surprised to learn there was no formalised corporate support for the NSPCC in the city, I was very aware there is a wealth of goodwill towards the NSPCC. It has become increasingly clear from conversations with business people that there’s a genuine will to harness the business community’s desire to make a meaningful difference to local children’s lives. Brighton-based company, City Cars, have already been generous and sponsored our membership flier, which has been a great help.
“Membership of the NSPCC Brighton and Hove Business Group offers local companies a chance to align themselves with a highly respected national charity that is doing great work throughout Sussex and across the country, and engage with like-minded business professionals who understand there is also a strong business case for getting involved.”
Ros Bird, NSPCC corporate manager (South East) adds: “It’s important to remember that families in crisis often suffer particular hardship in financially difficult times and that often impacts hardest of all on the children. There is a tremendous network of local and regional fundraising groups who work very hard for us. It is especially pleasing and exciting to open up a new network of corporate supporters to help us extend the services we provide. I would be happy to offer further insight into our services and give updates on how we are engaging with new technology to further help children if anyone would like to find out more about our achievements.”
The NSPCC Brighton & Hove Business Group is inviting companies to join the group and/or pledge to support the NSPCC in some way during 2010, particularly if they are considering choosing a charity partner, would like to nominate a member of staff to be represented on the group, or would be prepared to encourage employees to organise fundraising activities.
Any organisation interested in joining the group is asked to contact Ros Bird on 01293 651840 or email southeastappeals@nspcc.org.uk.
In it to win it
Massive Latest Homes prize in charity competition at the BHEAA annual dinner
Latest Homes is delighted to be organising an enormous prize to be won at this year’s annual Brighton and Hove Estate Agents Association (BHEAA) dinner this month. In previous years, Latest Homes’ creative director and food critic, Andrew Kay, has been auctioned to the highest bidder to cook dinner in their homes.
‘‘We wanted to do something different this year and I went to new BHEAA Chairman Phil Graves with a new idea,” says Andrew. “Phil immediately said yes to my proposal, and I have now put together a fabulous prize. On the night one lucky winner will win dinner for two once a month for a year at some of the county’s finest restaurants.
‘‘We are enormously grateful to all of the restaurants who stepped up to the mark and offered to join in this great effort to raise a massive sum of money for local charities. At Latest Homes we have asked that £1,000 is earmarked for The Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice here in Sussex.
‘‘There are also great runner-up prizes and bonus prizes of West End theatre tickets too. All in all this is probably the longest and most glamorous prize we have ever put together and includes an overnight stay at one hotel, champagne, fine dining and VIP treatment all the way.
“For the chance to win a whole year of dining in style – all we ask is that on the night you pop a £10 note into the glass on the table – a small price for the chance to win such a great prize, and also a small sum to ask you to donate to such a worthy cause. If everyone at the dinner enters the competition we should raise around £3,500 for local charities.’’
