10 corporate charity partnerships for September 2014
Howard Lake | 10 September 2014 | News
Here is a round-up of corporate charity partnerships announced or starting in August 2014.
1. PR Newswire and Centrepoint
Centrepoint, the charity that supports homeless young people, has begun a partnership with PR Newswire, who will provide its global PR and communication tools to help the charity raise awareness of its work and activities.
The PR Newswire management team were taken on a tour of three Centrepoint hostels in London, including the building in which the charity began in 1969, and met staff dedicated to helping young people turn their lives around.
Lisa Ashworth, President, PR Newswire EMEA and India, said: “PR Newswire has a record of working in partnerships that bring together not-for-profits, social enterprises and businesses to explore opportunities that have a positive impact on both the community and business performance”.
The first story that Centrepoint and PR Newswire will be sharing focuses on a new app to help the 80,000 young people who experience homelessness each year ‘check out’ of hostels and into independent living.
2. Scotmid and Anthony Nolan
Left to right: Ally Boyle (Scottish Anthony Nolan supporter), Hardeep Singh Kohli, Paul Martin (Scotmid staff member)
Scotmid Co-operative, and its brands Semichem, Lakes & Dales Co-operative and Scotmid Co-operative Funeral Directors, are raising funds and awareness for Anthony Nolan from September 2014 until September 2015.
The year-long partnership will be a lifesaving match for people with blood cancer, raising funds and awareness of Anthony Nolan, which runs the UK bone marrow register. To represent the heroic nature of the partnership, a superheroes theme has been chosen.
In 2012-2013 Scotmid chose Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres as its charity partner and it raised £260,000 for the charity. From 2013-2014 it has supported Prostate Cancer UK and has smashed the £150,000 fundraising target, hitting £265,000 to date.
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3. Lycamobile and Cricket United Day
Lycamobile, the largest global provider of low-cost international mobile calls has continued its support of Cricket United Day with a £5,000 donation to the appeal.
The second Cricket United Day, which took place at the Kia Oval on 16 August, aw Lycamobile along with players, fans, commentators and other key stakeholders come together to turn the KIA Oval blue to help improve lives through cricket.
Cricket United, the joint fundraising appeal that brings together UK charities Lord’s Taverners, Chance to Shine and the PCA Benevolent Fund in an effort to raise money to support the wider cricket community, has seen nearly £60,000 raised for the charities so far this summer.
4. Vue Cinemas and Blind Children UK
[youtube height=”450″ width=”800″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTiFvPbspqE[/youtube]
During September an inspiring short film featuring blind and partially sighted children, will be shown on big screens in cinemas across the UK.
The film, entitled ‘Opening Up the World’, aims to help families and children understand more about the challenges of living with sight loss and the work that the charity does. The film lasts just 90 seconds and will be shown before each movie in all 80 Vue cinemas across the country.
Joanne Webb, Vue Marketing and Sales Director said:
“We are delighted to be able to support Blind Children UK and use our state of the art technology to raise awareness and share the inspirational tales that Blind Children UK sees every day.”
5. Wallis and CLIC Sargent
Womenswear retailer Wallis has chosen CLIC Sargent, the cancer charity for children and young people, as its first UK-wide charity partner.
The partnership was launched on 1 September, which also marks the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. CLIC Sargent is asking people to wear a gold ribbon throughout September to show their support for the thousands of families coping with the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
Wallis will be selling the gold ribbon in all of its stand-alone stores and online at during September. All of the funds raised from the sale of these ribbons will go to CLIC Sargent.
6. Mask-arade and MSA Trust
The Multiple System Atrophy Trust (MSA Trust) has partnered with Mask-arade, the celebrity and personalised mask company. Founded in 2008 by three directors Ray Duffy, Chris O’Nyan and Dean Walton, the company appeared on BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den.
Ray Duffy has become passionate about raising awareness about multiple system atrophy since his father-in-law was recently diagnosed with the condition.
For the next year, every personalised mask that Mask-arade produces will feature the MSA Trust logo and a unique text-to-donate code.
7. Cage 4 All and Centrepoint
Cage 4 All, the Community Interest Company delivering Cage Cricket as a resource for communities, schools, charities and employers, has partnered with the charity for homeless young people, Centrepoint.
Cage 4 All will work with young people attending the 21 Centrepoint hostels, ensuring that each has their own Cage Cricket kit. This will enable Centrepoint staff and young people to not only have the opportunity to undertake some sport, but through the playing of Cage Cricket will see enhanced self-esteem, increased confidence as well as development in teamwork and communication.
8. 99p Stores and Rays of Sunshine
As it opened its 250th branch in the UK, discount grand 99p Stores announced its first national charity partner would be Rays of Sunshine, a children’s charity which aims to brighten the lives of children aged three to 18 years old who are living with serious or life-limiting illnesses, by granting their wishes.
9. BlackRock and Children’s Hospices across London
City-based asset management company, BlackRock, has chosen Children’s Hospices across London (CHaL) as its Charity of the Year partner for 2014/15.
CHaL is a network of five children’s hospices, including – chYps at EllenorLions (Dartford), Haven House (Woodford Green), Noah’s Ark (Barnet), Richard House (Beckton) and Shooting Star Chase (Hampton and Guildford).
This is the first City-wide partnership for CHaL.
10. Telindus and Soldiering on Through Life Trust
ICT solutions provider Telindus is extending its continuing sponsorship of the Soldiering on Through Life Trust to become supporting partner of the Eight Voices One Story Exhibition at The Invictus Games Opening Ceremony on Wednesday 10th September.
The Eight Voices One Story Exhibition was developed as a way to acknowledge the courageous journeys of the Soldiering On Awards winners and raise public awareness of the Armed Forces charities involved.
The Soldiering on Through Life Trust is taking the exhibition to the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games, where more than 400 competitors, from 14 nations, all who have served or are still serving in the Armed Forces will push their bodies to the limit to compete in nine adaptive sports in world-class venues on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
And one more…
11. Network Rail and CLIC Sargent
Giant gold ribbon at King’s Cross Station
Network Rail is partnering with CLIC Sargent to promote Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The launch included the unveiling of a giant gold ribbon on the concourse at King’s Cross station in London.
CLIC Sargent Director of Fundraising, Lucy Caldicott, said:
“Every month, thousands of families deal with the devastating impact of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment and CLIC Sargent is here to provide vital practical, emotional and financial support.”
“Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a great opportunity for people wear a gold ribbon to show they are standing by children with cancer.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.